Breeding of the Black-failed Hawfinch 183 



the Castle ' air that 1 left it. The next morning' I found it on 

 the ground, evidently severely suffering- from cramp. The cock 

 still continued to feed it, but as it appeared to be getting weaker, 

 I took it indoors and tried to rear it by hand. It only lived four 

 days longer, having contracted a chill. It was then quite a nice 

 little bird, but still retained its extraordinary ear-tufts. I fancy 

 that these must be designed for protective purposes, as it makes 

 tlie l)ird when in the nest look extremely hideous. In fact 

 vvilh its large bill, and with these ear-tufts erected it has quite 

 the appearance of a miniature prehistoric monster, and would, I 

 should think, be quite capable of scaring off any ordinary enemy. 



This is the third time this pair of birds have nested and 

 failed to rear their young. If they live, I shall try and give them 

 an aviary to themselves next season, and may then meet with 

 more success. 



^^M-> 



Whydahs. 



By Dr. E. Hopkinson. D.S.O. 



The Whydahs form a well-defined group of birds, if, as 

 I think we must, the Combasous are included therein. In 

 the Hand List it is true this genus is still isolated away from 

 the Whydahs proper somewhere between the Firefinches and 

 Mannikins, but Shelley and other recent authorities agree in 

 considering the Combasou a Whydah. With this I think that all 

 aviculturists will concur, for in its habits, except that its nests 

 are more or less Sparrow-like, — untidy collections of material 

 in holes in walls and roofs, not woven structures low down 

 amidst the grass, — it agrees with the other Whydahs, while its 

 colour changes are on the same lines, though no lengthening of 

 the tail accompanies the donning of the breeding dress nor is the 

 uniform black set off with red or yellow. In both these points, 

 however, some of the more typical Whydahs follow the Combas- 

 ou; as regards the tail, in Urobrachya there is but little if any 

 elongation of this appendage when the colour change takes 

 place, while as regards the uniform black nuptial plumage, this 

 character is shared by Coliostruthus concolor, the wholly black 

 race, variety or sub-species of C. ardens, and Drcpanoplectes too 



