PARASITIC WEAVE RBIRDS 73 



Benson (1953, p. 80) listed under this species the following very 

 uncertain comment: "Egg, very probablj^ of Ilypoc/iera sp., April; 

 host probably Pytilia sp." As far as I know there is no authentic 

 record of a Pytilia as a host of a combassou. 



Young Out of the Nest 



Chapin (1954, pp. 570-571) described a newly fledged glossy 

 combassou as follows (paraphrased) : Bill dull horn color, darker 

 above. Interior of mouth whitish, with five dusky spots on palate, 

 those on sides of the palate larger than more median ones. On back of 

 tongue two dark spots, and black crescent on inside of mandible 

 beneath tongue. Skin at corners of mouth pink, but no longer 

 showing any swelling (which probably existed earlier). 



There is an unfortunate dearth of information concerning the 

 nestling and the postnestling stages of this bird. Judging from the 

 other viduine weavers, I assume that the young are reared along with 

 their foster nest mates in apparent amity; however, field observations 

 are sorely needed. 



Food and Feeding Habits 



The food of the glossy combassou seems to be restricted to small 

 seeds of grasses and similar plants. Writing of the race Vidua 

 amauropteryx nigeriae in northeastern Belgian Congo, Chapin (1954, 

 pp. 571-572) found only such seeds in the crops of six specimens 

 collected. He noted small flocks of these birds hopping about along 

 paths and cultivated clearings where there were grasses and other 

 potential food sources. 



Plumages and Molts 



Vidua amauropteryx amauropteryx 



Adult male in breeding plumage: Entire head and body, upper 

 wing-coverts, scapulars, and long innermost secondaries Black with 

 moderately pronounced Bluish Slate-Black gloss. Concealed tuft of 

 white feathers on either side of rump. Remiges Clove Brown to pale 

 Fuscous, internally edged pale Drab, and the narrow outer webs of 

 the primaries narrowly edged with the same, appearing almost like 

 whitish lines. Under wing-coverts whitish to Tilleul Buff. Rectrices 

 uniformly Fuscous. Bill Coral Red. Feet Flesh Ocher to Apricot 

 Orange. Iris Fuscous-Black. Wing 64-70 mm. Tail 38-41 mm. 

 Culmen from base 9.5-11 mm. Tarsus 13-14 mm. 



Adult male in nonbreeding plumage: Forehead, middle of 

 crown, lores, and broad superciliary stripe pale Bufly Brown to pale 



