EOFHOHA PER®®WATÁ
EOPHONA PERSONATA.
Masked Grosbeak.
Coccothraustes personatus, Temm. and Schlegel, Fauna Jap. Aves, p. 91. tab. lii.
Hesperiphona personata, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 506.
O n the accompanying Plate I have given a representation o f a species of Grosbeak, which is more than
usually interesting, inasmuch as it is one of the finest members of its family, and, moreover, the inhabitant
o f countries with the natural history o f which we are but imperfectly acquainted, viz. China and Japan. A
specimen o f the female in the rich collection of the Earl of Derby is said to be from Manilla ; if such should
really be the case, the range of the species is very extensive: I have not, however, as yet seen any examples
from India proper. The bird is well figured in Messrs. Temminck and Schlegel’s “ Fauna Japónica,” but no
account whatever is given of its habits, nor have they even mentioned the localities in which it was found.
I believe th at a seasonal change o f colour takes place in the bill of this species, as well as in that of
Eophona melanura; as the example above referred to in the Earl of Derby’s collection exhibits a deep purple
colouring around the base and at the tip. A considerable difference occurs in the colouring of the sexes;
the black of the face and head, so conspicuous in the male, being entirely wanting in the female.
The time is not I hope far distant when this fine species will be added to the aviaries of Eu ro p e; it
would doubtless bear confinement equally as well as any other member of the numerous family to which it
belongs, and I shall be gratified to learn that its introduction has been successfully achieved by some of the
now frequent visitors to China.
Crown of the head, lores, and a broad band encircling the base of the bill black, with steel-blue
reflections ; upper and under surface brownish grey, passing into a deeper tint of brown on the scapularies
and lower p art o f the back, and into white immediately before the black of the head and fac e ; wings and
tail black, with steel-blue reflections; at the base of the primaries a broad band o f white; bill bright citron-
yellow ; legs and feet yellow, washed with brown, especially on the nails; irides reddish hazel.
T he female has the general plumage brown, with a wash of grey on the breast, and the primaries and
tail dull black.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size.