Whydahs. 211 



REFf:RENCEs. I""orbes. P.Z.S. 1880. 457. Plate. 47. figs. 

 I and 3. Sh. iv. 14. Bntler. i. 187. Singv. 61. 



Range. N.E. and E. Africa. (S. Abyssinia to Somali Land 

 and Ugog-o). 



The plate in the P.Z.S. was drawn from a living specimen 

 then in the Zoo. In the note accompanying the plate we are told 

 that the bird was received out of colour on the 17th of July, 1878, 

 that it came into colour in the following sunnner and died moult- 

 ing and in a poor condition in March, 1880. 



Nothing is known of this bird's nest or eggs, and indeed 

 but little of any details of its w^ild life. As a cage bird it is 

 distinctly rare. 



In the A.M. for 1899 there are letters on two examples 

 imported at that time, and it has since been occasionally brought 

 in. Mr. Allen Silver in the A.M. for 1917., p. 89 says that some 

 were offered for sale in 1914, all of which, however, he believes 

 were really Ultramarine Combasous. See below under this bird. 



In the previous year (1913) I bought a male of this species, 

 or at least a bird described as such by the seller. It was coming 

 into colour when obtained, but died about 5 weeks later " all 

 black and with the long tail feathers just appearing " say my 

 notes made at the time. Its red beak and the general shape, that 

 of a Pin-tailed Whydah rather than a Combasou, make me feel 

 certain that this bird was what it purported to be, a Splendid 

 Black Whydah. although it did not survive long enough to 

 grow a full tail. 



-0- 



PIN-TAILED WHYDAH. 

 Vidua scrciia. (H.L. v. 408.) 



Synonomy. 

 I 



Vidua hypocherina. (H.L. v. 408). 



Vidua hypochcrina. Verr. 1856. Cat.xiii.208. 



References. Forbes. P.Z.S. 1880. 457. Plate. 47. figs, i 

 and 3. Sh. iv. 14. Butler, i. 187. Singv. 61. 



Pin-tailed Widow Bird. 



Common Widow Bird, (the English in S. A. /St.), 



