Fringilla hepatica, LINNÆUS; Der Leberfarbene Fink, BECHSTEIN.
This is about the same size as the last, which it somewhat resembles in
plumage; but its air and manner are very different. Its length is four
inches, of which the wedge-shaped tail measures one and three quarters.
The beak is like that of the sparrow in form, of a blood-red colour,
tipped with black; the eyelids are yellowish and bare; the iris is
reddish brown; the feet are flesh-coloured; on the cheeks is a dark
purple spot; the throat, half the breast, the sides, and the rump, are
of a dirty greenish blue: the upper part of the body is of a dark
liver-brown, the belly of a lighter shade of the same colour; the wings
are of a deep brown, with the edges of the pen-feathers of the same
colour as the back; the under side tending to blue, with black tips. I
do not know the female.
OBSERVATIONS.--This species inhabits the shores of Africa; it is very
lively, and its call is "_tzä_." Its weak but sweet song resembles
that of the wood wren. It is fed on canary-seed.