AMADINA ERYTHROCEPIIALA.
base of the bill angular, that of the lower is inverted; space between eye and
angie of mouth nearly bare. Wings rounded and when folded cover the
first half of the ta il; the first quill feather is rudimentary, the third is the
longest, the second and fourth are equal and rather shorter than the third
the fifth, sixth, and seventh, are successively shorter,—the difference between
each, as well as between the fifth and fourth, about a line and a half. Tail
graduated, the two centre feathers considerably the longest, and also the
most pointed. Legs short and moderately robust, anteriorly scutellated
posteriorly entire; toes strong, the middle one much the longest, the external
and internal ones nearly of equal length, the hinder toe short and powerful •
the claws short and slightly curved.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length from the point of the bill to
the tip of the tail................ 5 q
Length o f the b ill........................................ 0 5
of the wings when folded ... 2 11
of the tail................................ 2 3
T „ ,, Inches. Lines.
Length of the tarsus ..-..................... q ^
of the outer toe ................... 0 3
of the inner toe . ............... 0 3
of the middle toe .. ............... 0 5 i
of the hinder toe................... 0 2£
Female. —With the exception of the head, the colours are like those of the
male, only lighter, and not so vivid ; the head in the female is of the same
colour as the back.
Young.—Colours similar to those of the female.
All the examples that we saw of this species occurred in the neighbourhood of Latakoo, and in
the situations in which we discovered them we invariably found numbers congregated together
The mdmduals which composed the flocks were generally seen feeding upon the ground near
o the gardens of the natives, and when they were disturbed, they, according to circumstances
e ith j reparmd to the hedges or shrubs in the immediate neighbourhood, or to some more distant
ocahty While feeding or flying, they uttered harsh chirping sounds, and oBlho occasion any'
thing like a musical note. y