Al! nghf; reserved. December, 1916. 



BIRD NOTES: 



THE 



JOURNAL OF THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB. 



The Crimson-Ringed Whydah. 



( Penthetria laticauda). 

 By Wi\i. Shore Baily. 



A very fine coloured drawing' of this handsome bird 

 by Mr. Goodchild appeared in the November number of 

 B.N. for the year 191 i. Thel species at that time was 

 pra(ti(ally unknown to avicuhurists, the few birds that had 

 reached this country being either in the hands of e.K- 

 hibitors, or at the Zoo. In 191 4 Mr. E. W. Harper brought 

 over a few from East Africa, and of these I secured a oock 

 and two hens. The cock, when in colour, is black; the back, 

 wing coverts and a patch on the thighs heavily striated with 

 brown ; the crown of the head and a wide ring around the 

 neck crimson. 1'hey are considerably larger »than their cousins 

 (/-'. ardens). My male was a long' time coming into colour, 

 and was not in full breeding dress until August; I think 

 that this was probably the reason why they did not breed. 

 He built three nests; one in a bush, another in a conifer' 

 and the tliird in a bunch of grass (sec i)late). This last 

 was ver)- neatly built, and was much like that of the Jack- 

 son's (D. Jacksom), but instead of being on the ground, 

 was abouf two feet above! it. Unfortunately he was unable 

 to persuade either of his mates to take possession of it al- 

 though I occasionally saw one of them making a casual 

 inspcitioii of ii. In the article on tliis bird already mentioned 

 it is said to construct playing grounds, after the manner of 

 I), jacksoiit, but my male made no ^uch attempt here, although 

 there was every facility for his doing so. Moreover, his dis- 



