TANAGERS. 
369 
The Blood The last group of the family to which we shall refer is that 
Weaver-Finches. 0 f the blood weaver-finches. These birds have the tail longer than 
the wing, the inner secondaries so elongated as to equal the primaries in length, 
the beak curved, and the nostrils entirely hidden by plumelets. As typically 
represented by the waxbill weaver-finch (Estrilda astrilda), they take their name 
from the prevalence of scarlet in their coloration, and are naturally confined to 
Africa and Arabia, although some have been introduced into Madagascar and 
St. Helena. There are about a dozen species. 
* The Tanagers. 
Family TANAGRID.E. 
Numerous both as regards species and genera, and brilliant in coloration, the 
tanagers have been not inaptly described as dentirostral finches, since they possess 
vol. in.—24 
regarded as a pest on account of the ravages which it inflicts upon growing fields 
of rice. The nest is constructed of dry grass or other available materials, and the 
eggs are white. The adult male has the crown of the head black; the cheeks 
are pure white; the upper and lower parts, including the wings, are uniform slate 
grey; the rump and tail are black. Some individuals possess a song of consider¬ 
able sweetness, but the usual note of this species is commonplace and unattractive. 
JAVA SPARROW. 
