THE BLUE FINCH.
Loxia cœrulea, Linnæus; Le Bouvreuil bleu d’dmérique, Buffon; Der dunkelblaue Kernbeisser, Bechstein.
This bird is the size of the common grosbeak, about six inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures two. The beak, which measures six lines, is strong, and of a dark brown; the feet black; a black streak surrounds the chin, and extends to the eyes: the whole plumage is blue, except the greater wing coverts, the pen-feathers, and the central tail feathers, which are dark brown.
The female is entirely brown, with a slight mixture of blue.
Observations.—I have had an opportunity of observing this bird among the collection belonging to his Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe Meiningen, where it is fed on canary seed. It calls little, and its song is weak, but its plumage is beautiful. It is found in several parts of America, in Brazil, Cayenne, and even in Carolina.
YELLOW-BELLIED GROSBEAK.
Loxia flaviventris, Linnæus; Le Grosbec jaune du Cap de Bonne Espérance, Brisson; Der gelbafterige Kernbeisser, Bechstein.
I am not sure that this bird, which I have also seen amongst those of his Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe Meiningen, is the true Loxia flaviventris of Linnæus. It is of the size of the common chaffinch, and five inches long. The beak, which is moderately strong, very much resembles that of the chaffinch, and is of a horn brown. The feet are a dull brown. The head and neck are of a dull pale blue; the upper part of the body olive, the whole of the under part is a fine bright orange.
The Yellow Grosbeak of the Cape of Good Hope is thus described:—the head, upper part of the neck, and back are olive, with stripes of brown; the rump olive. The under part of the body deep yellow; on each side of the head is a yellow band which passes above the eyes; the wings and tail feathers are brown, edged with olive.