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YELLOW-BILLED CARDINAL.
T H E YELLOW-BILLED CARDINAL,
Paroaria capifjita, D'Orb.
Al s o called the "Brown-throated ' and the "Lesser Cardhial"; but !hc first of
these is a nnsiiomer, inasjinicJi as the throat is distinctly black on iJu- upper
stirface of the feathers: indeed, it would be far more applicable either to i'. ¿ularis
or P . i'crvicalis, in both of which species the black throat-feathers have reddish bases.
P . capitaia inhabits Brazil, Paraguay, and the Argentine Republic.
.•Vs witli the Dominican Cardinal this bird has the head, including the chin vivid
•carmine, the throat black, e.xtending to a point on either side of the cheeks, where
(in life) it disappeai's behind the red feathering,"and tapering almost to a point on
the t)reast; general colour above slat\--black; feathers of the uape white at their bases;
tlie rump .slighth" mottled ^\'ith :aid witli tlie lateral plumes white-tipped; «'ing-
•co\-ertK, quills aud tail feathers black; the inner web of the outer tail feather
narrowly- fringed at the end with white; sides of neck pure white tapering almost
to the nape and continuous with the pure white of the understirface; which, as in
the other species is slightly tinge:! with grey on the sides'and flanks; the latter
mottled with dusky bars; thighs white in front, black behind; under wing coverts
^and under tail coverts white, a patch of black near the edge of the wing; quills
below dusky, with ashy inner edges; betik briglu ochreous yellow; legs flesh-pink;
iris fiery chestnut.* Length inches. Female like the male.
The yoting bird differs much as in the preceding species. T imported a handsome
young cock of this bird from I,a Plata early in 1893:,it makes a gentle and
lively little cage-bird, and seems not at all of a delicate constitution. At tlic same
time, as it is a species which is now seldom imported, I sliould not c;ire to
recommend keeping it in an uuheated aviary during the winter months. LnhappiUI
n<j longer have the, opportunity of doing so if T would.
Herr Wiemer remarks:—"In 1873 the Zoological Gardens purchased j p.-iir
• I look.the colourinfi of the beak, legs and iris from my bird two mimiteti after its death, and therefore .-ii-r. • '.y':nm
of its acryracy
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