158 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 223 



Natal down: Unknown. 



Adult female: Not distinguishable with certainty from males in 

 nonbreeding plumage, but frequently with dark head stripes less 

 blackish, more brownish. Also rectrices somewhat paler. Size as 

 in adult male. 



Juvenal female: None seen, but probably like corresponding 

 male plumage. 



The various races of this species are distinguishable only in the 

 nuptial plumage of the adult male. This condition may be the 

 actual state of affairs or it may be merely a reflection of the imcom- 

 pleteness of museum collections when it comes to "winter" males, 

 females, and young birds. There is some reason to think that com- 

 pleter, more fully documented material may reveal some racial differ- 

 ences at least in adult males in nonbreeding plumage. Years ago, 

 Chapin noted that typical S. p. paradisaea differed from S. p. aucupum 

 in this stage in the following particulars: S. p. paradisaea appeared 

 to be darker above, with heavier, coarser, blackish streaks on the 

 back, to have the breast more streaked and spotted with blackish 

 (these spots barely present in aucupum), and to have the pale median 

 coronal stripe narrower than in aucupum. More material is needed 

 before we can say whether these distinctions are constant. 



The breeding adult males of races of Steganura paradisaea may be 

 identified by the following key: 



la. Elongated rectrices tapering noticeably terminally ... S. p. paradisaea 

 16. Elongated rectrices tapering terminally. 



2a. Hind neck pale yellow without any orange golden brown. 



3a. Wing 75-80 mm. Breadth of long rectrices 24-30 mm. S. p. orienlalis 

 3h. Wing 80-89 mm. Breadth of long rectrices 35-37 mm. . S. p. obtusa 

 2b. Hind neck golden orange brown or darker, 

 •la. Breast not noticeably darker than hind neck. 

 5a. Long rectrices very long, over 275 mm. 



6a. Long rectrices 290-360 mm S. p. togoensis 



Gh. Long rectrices 284-298 mm S. p. inlerjecta 



56. Ivong rectrices shorter, under 275 mm S. p. aucupum 



46. Breast definitely darker, more brownish, than hind neck. 



S. p. kadugliensis 



Native Names 



The following names have been noted in the literature as native 

 names for the paradise widow birds. In all probability many of them 

 apply only to males in breeding plumage. 



Native name Tribe Locality 



Abu mus Arabicized Sudan 



Chirinundu Nyasaland 



Cilimundu Nyanja Northern Rhodesia 



Doutoulou Baya French West Africa 



