50



A. Morrison—The Genus Sporophila



to Germany. I do not think it has been imported to this country

which is to be regretted as it is a very pretty species.


Reddish Finch (S. bouvreuil)


Male. —Above, reddish cinnamon deeper on the lower back and

rump ; top of head, glossy black ; lores, whitish ; eyelid, black above,

cinnamon below ; ear coverts, cheeks, and under surface of body,

reddish cinnamon, deeper on the sides of body, thighs, flanks, and

under tail coverts ; wing coverts, black ; rest of wing feathers, blackish

edged with brownish ; above the bases of the inner primaries there

is a white wing patch ; under wing coverts, white with a black patch

at the angle of the wing ; upper tail coverts, black, tipped with brown ;

irides, dark ; bill, black ; feet, dark blackish brown.


Juvenile Mole. —Similar to the female but darker with a rusty

brownish under surface ; darker wings and tail with a white patch on

the wings.


Female. —Above, olive brown ; lores, feathers round eye, ear coverts,

cheeks, throat, and foreneck, ochreous buff with an olive tinge ; centre

of breast and abdomen, yellowish white ; sides of body and flanks,

olive brown ; thighs, yellowish white ; under-tail coverts, ochreous

buff, tinged with olive ; lesser wing coverts, like the back, the others

brown with olive edges and whitish tips ; rest of wing feathers, brown

with olive edges except the innermost flights where the edges are

greyer ; under wing coverts, white washed with olive yellow ; tail

feathers like the flights but with paler edges ; feet, dark blackish

brown ; bill, black.


Plate. —Neunzig, pi. 8 (male).


Habitat— Brazil.


References. —Russ, p. 567. Neunzig, p. 238. Butler, p. 146. Bird

Notes, vol. vi, p. 145. Avic. Mag., vol. ii, p. 57 ; vol. iv, p. 131 ; 1931,

p. 328.


This delightful species, which always puts me in mind of a miniature

Bullfinch, is very common in its native land and ought to be freely

imported. Unfortunately this is not the case and it only comes to

this country very rarely. I believe that it is more commonly imported

to the Continent, where perhaps its charms are better appreciated.



