80 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 22 3 



(1930a, pp. 336-337) noted a jQock that came every day to pick up 

 machewere seeds in a fowl yard at Nyambadwe House in the Shire 

 Highlands, Nyasaland. 



I have seen these birds feeding on small seeds along paths in South- 

 ern Rhodesia, but as the birds were near habitations, I did not feel 

 free to collect any. 



Plumages and Molts 



Vidua funerea funerea 



Adult male in breeding plumage: Similar to the corresponding 

 stage of V. amauropteryx, but black plumage with much darker, dull, 

 velvet-like sheen, blacldsh Dusky Dull Violet-Blue. Bill white or 

 pale pinkish white. Feet coral red, orange, and flesh pink or even 

 whitish (according to various describers, but I cannot help but ques- 

 tion the extremes in the above-mentioned series). Iris dark brown 

 or blacldsh. Wings 65-71 mm. 



Adult male in nonbreeding plumage: Similar to that of V. 

 amauropteryx, but more distinctly streaked above, more like V. 

 chalybeata in this regard, but somewhat warmer brown than the 

 latter. 



Female: Similar to that of V. amauropteryx, but averaging some- 

 what paler. Not distinguishable with certainty from nonbreeding 

 males. Wings 62-66.5 mm. 



Juvenal (sexes alike): Not distinguishable with certainty from 

 same stage of V. amauropteryx. 



Vidua funerea nigerrima 



Adult male in breeding plumage: Similar to that of nominate 

 race, but less glossy, and the gloss darker. Very dark violet wash 

 over black feathers. Bill white or pinkish white. Feet white or 

 very pale flesh color. Iris blackish brown. Wings 64-70 mm. 



Adult male in nonbreeding plumage: Not distinguishable from 

 the corresponding stage of nominate race. 



Female: Similar to male in nonbreeding phmiage and to female 

 of nominate race. Wings 62-66 mm. 



Juvenal (sexes alike): Not distinguishable from that of nominate 

 race. 



Vidua Junerea wilsoni 



Adult male in breeding plumage: Similar to that of nominate 

 race, but slightly more glossy and smaller. Wings 63-67 mm. 



Adult male in nonbreeding plumage: Similar to that of nomi- 

 nate race, but slightly paler in color, and smaller. 



Female: Similar to that of nominate race, but slightly paler in 

 general coloration, and smaller. Wings 60-61 mm. 



