Hi
Ji
fii i
I H:
• .'¡r
.a • • fl
-iS t
I. V
I'll
, i1
' i
; • 1:13
111
if4!!! SlIi 'T I ' il
R I B B O N FINCH. S.J.
fAmaciirhCLytzsctaiaj
• THE RIBBON FINCH.
Amadina fasciata, GmELIN.
' ' I ^ H I S common but prett}? African species is also known by tlie far more appropriate,
though less pleasing name, of "Cut-throat Finch." The male abo\'e
is du.ll golden-brown, the outer borders of the feathers brighter and barred with
black; the head is rather greyer than the back, and the tail feathers blackish-grey,
the iuner webs broadlj- tipped with white, the outermost feathers with the outer
web white; flight feathers smok3'-brown, with greyish-brown edges, inner secondaries
with golden brown tips, a blackish subterminal bar on the iuner webs;
feathers round the eye, front of cheeks, chin and back of throat white ; a broad
band of crimsou from the ear coverts over the back of the cheeks and across the
throat; remainder of under surface fawn-coloured, the chest mottled with white
and barred with black, (having a very beautiful effect when the bird sings,) centre
of abdomen and vent white; feathers of flanks with blackish terminal bars; under
tail-coverts cream}' ^^•hite, black at base. Length 49 to 5! inches. Beak and legs
flesh-coloured; iris brown.
The hen is rather duller coloured than the cock, shows no pure white on the
cheeks, chin, or throat; the latter being whitish, speckled with black; the crimson
ribbon is wanting: the under parts are dull fawn colour, with no white
mottling on the chest, and the blackish bars mostly broken up into dots and
dashes. Length 4J inches ; but probably somewhat variable. It is found from
Senegambia to N. E. Africa and southwards to Masai-Land.
In the Bird-room and aviary I found this bird a veritable bully and nuisance;
interfering with the nesting of other birds, cha.sing and tormenting them, building
and stealing nests, laying eggs but failing to sit on and hatch them. On the
other hand, if placed iu an aviary with birds stronger or bolder than itself, it
is a coward. In the breeding cage it is one of the most charming, confiding,
and accommodating of all the Ornamental Pinches, and this is particularly the
case with birds bred in such a cage.
2 D