Fringilla Angolensis, LINNÆUS; La Vengoline, BUFFON; Der
Angolische Hänfling, BECHSTEIN.
This, in form and habits, very much resembles our redpole. Its length is
four inches and a half, of which the forked tail contains one and three
quarters. The beak is short, and not flattish, blunt at the tip, and of
a dingy flesh-colour; the feet are flesh-coloured; the circumference of
the beak is black; that of the eyes, with the sides of the throat, is
spotted with white; the top of the head, the upper part of the throat,
the back, and the little coverts of the wings, are of a brownish
ash-colour.
OBSERVATIONS.--Angola is the native country of this bird. As to the
song, it is sweet and flute-like, very like that of the linnet, but
more melodious. It is fed with rape and canary seed. The young males
have the same plumage as the females.