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THE LAVENDER-FINCH,
Lagonosticta ccerulcscens, VlElLL.
^ COMMON but extremeljr beautiful West African Waxbill, simple and cliaste
in colouring. Above it is pearl grey, with the lower back and upper tailcoverts
bright crimson lake; the two centre tail feathers dull crimson, excepting
at^ the edges, which are brighter, shafts black ; remaining tail feathers black, dull
crimson externally ; flight feathers smokj^-brown, with greyer outer webs ; a 'black
streak from the base of the beak through the eye almost to the ear ; cheeks, chin
and throat pale pearl grey, gradually deepening in tint backwards until oil the
abdomen it becomes sooty-grey, relieved on the flanks by a few pure white transversely
elliptical spots. The male blackish from the thighs to the vent, according
to Mr. Abrahams.* Under tail-coverts bright crimson; under wing-cov^rts whitish
grey; flight feathers below sooty-grey; tail feathers below slaty-grey. Length 3J
inches. Beak black with a vinous red suffusion at the sides of the upper, and
base of the lower mandible; legs blackish grey; iris gre)ash olive.
I have found this Waxbill even more delicate than the Crimson-eared species,
an out-door aviary suits it admirably during the summer months, but, however
vigorons its health may seem, the first sharp frost frequently kills it. Even in an
aviary with a winter temperature of fifty degrees, I have rarely known it to live
long: a cage such as I have already recommended for the preceding species and
the companionship of other delicate Waxbills, are the only means of saving its
life, unless a high temperature can be ensured during the cold weather.
The fiight of the Lavender Finch, or "Cinereous Waxbill" as it is sometimes
called, is extremely rapid; indeed, I specially noticed that, when associated with
other Waxbills, Mannikins, and English Finches in my cold aviary, this little
Astrild flashed past them like an arrow, and would even cross their paths on the
return journey before they reached their destination.
* Mr. Abrahams also sent me colonred sketches to illustrate the difference in the sexes : the coclt bird with the
thighs and abdomen almost black; the hen with the same parts sooty-grey, not approaching black: my description is
taken from a hen example,
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