T
THE PILEATED FINCH,
Coryphospingiis pHeaius, NEinv.
r p H I S lively little Bunting is a native of Brazil, to Venezuela and Colombia.
The male above is dark slate-grey, paler towards the tail, the greater and
primary coverts and the flight feathers are black-brown, greyish externally; the tailfeathers
black; the top of the head is black, with a broad central band of bright
satiny carmine feathers, which can be erected into a crest at pleasure; lores greyish
white; eye brown-grey; eyelid white; ear-coverts slate-grey; cheeks pale grey, white
in front; throat and breast pale grej-, whiter on the chin; abdomen white; sides of
body grey; under tail- and ^\'iug-coverts and axillaries white; flight feathers below
dusky with whitish inner edges; tail feathers below black, with greyish tips : Length
inches; upper mandible greyish horn-brown, lower reddish white; legs brownish
flesh tint; iris greyish brown.
The hen is altogether browner than the cock and has the crest brown; it
measures 4® inches in length.
Burmeister writes respecting the Pileated Finch:—"This attractive bird was
not rare in ]\Iinas Gerues, at Congonhas and Lagoa, though not common. It lives
in forest clearings or high scrub and in the summer unites in pairs: in Winter
more singly or else in little bauds. It feeds on seeds of weeds and from time to
time utters a tiny call-note, but never a song. I have not obtained its nest."
Speaking of this bird at Bahia, Neuwied says:—"Here it was not rare, one
noticed it on open places overgrown with high grass and man}- kinds of weeds;
also in bnshes of various pasture lands."
Here it lives in pairs, and after the breeding season unites into little companies,
hops about on the twigs, utters its short call note and lets a feeble sonobe
lieard.
Males and females appear, at first sight, to resemble one another entirely';
then upon closer inspection one notices the elegant bright red crest of the former,
especially if it is raised in excitement. This charming bird is found abundantl}? in
wm
The Pilcakd Finch.
65
the company of other Finches, and the little Grosbeaks. Their food consists of
many seeds of plants, on which account they are called Papa-Capim by the Brazilians.
They also hop about the shrubs like onr Linnets."
It seems strange, seeing that Neuwied must have had numerous opportunities of
observing this species when breeding, that he gives no information respectino- its
nest or eggs.
Dr. Riiss says that in 1874 Dr- Bodinus received from Geoffrev de St. Hilaire
four examples of this previou,sly unimported bird; then in 1877 pairs found their
way to the bird-rooms of Dr. Franken, A. F. Wiener, and liis own; and several
to the Zoological Gardens of London.
Disposition similar to that of the Jamaica Finch, "yet more agreeable and gentle
Only utters occasionally a harsh penetrating chirp. With Dr. Franken a pair o-ot
-as far as eggs, but not j-onng. Hitherto it has not been bred. Long-lived, active,
slippery, dexterously sliding through the scrub, and peaceable."
I found ni)- hen Pileated Finches considerably more active than the cock Redcrested
Finches; but doubtless they were in better health when I received them
When excited thej- erected the feathers of the crown in the same manner as the
coek-birds; only the crest, not being brightly coloured, M^as less strikingly beautiful •
though It gave an all-a^^ake sort of character to its owner, .vhich was rather pleasin^r'
They are lovable, confiding little creatures, always on the look out for a mealworm
the first thing in the morning: their call-note is a sharp decided fsip*
In the Gefiedcric Welt for the 27tli August, 1891, Dr. Rnss tells us that Mr
Richard Stichler of Ivotzschenbroda in Saxony, kindh- forwarded to him on the
17th clay of the month, a nest of C. pilcatus, which previously had been unknoxwi
The nest was built on a dry pine branch and was somewhat roughly constructed
of threads of sacking, thin straws, fine shavings, fibres of Manilla hemp and little
tufts of lint, but neatly lined inside with fibres of Manilla hemp.
The nest belonged to a brood, one of which had flown, and the parents had
again gone to nest. The young bird flew on the 13th June.
I find my sole remaining hen Pileated Finch a ^'erv timid bird, as will be
evident from the following fact : -Oi i e of three Green Avadavats which were associated
with a Cordon Bleu and a Zebra Waxbill in one of my large breeding-cages escaped
from Its cage one day, through the opening left by the sand-tray, which ^.as then
being cleansed. After some little trouble it was captured, and I then discovered
that Its companions of the same species had amused themselves by plucking it bare
• I wrote Uns down with tlte bird uttering tlte note at ,ny side, .so that I know it to be true- to call u -a
har.sli chirp" is, I tlinik, loo bad, l)ut it is "penetrating."
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