Loxia flaviventris, LINNÆUS; Le Grosbec jaune du Cap de Bonne
Espérance, BRISSON; Der gelbafterige Kernbeisser, BECHSTEIN.
I am not sure that this bird, which I have also seen amongst those of
his Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe Meiningen, is the true _Loxia
flaviventris_ of Linnæus. It is of the size of the common chaffinch, and
five inches long. The beak, which is moderately strong, very much
resembles that of the chaffinch, and is of a horn brown. The feet are a
dull brown. The head and neck are of a dull pale blue; the upper part of
the body olive, the whole of the under part is a fine bright orange.
The Yellow Grosbeak of the Cape of Good Hope is thus described:--the
head, upper part of the neck, and back are olive, with stripes of brown;
the rump olive. The under part of the body deep yellow; on each side of
the head is a yellow band which passes above the eyes; the wings and
tail feathers are brown, edged with olive.
The female only differs in the colours being less vivid.
VARIETY.--The top of the head, the upper part of the body, and the breast
are olive; the back of the neck, even to the throat, is ash-coloured;
the belly yellow, but between the legs white. The wings are black,
bordered with orange; the tail feathers dark green, but they are
bordered with yellow, and are black up the middle.
OBSERVATIONS.--This bird has been sold as the female of the preceding,
and placed in the same cage. It lived very sociably; but I should
suspect it rather of being the female of that under notice. It is a
native of the Cape of Good Hope.