Corycspondcncc. 245 



This first instalment is issued tentati\ely ; it is hoped to 

 complete tlie list in due course. 



To show the plan of the List we y;'ive in full the first record 

 of same. 



1. PIX-TAILED WIIVDAH. 



" lidiiii scrcuct (Linn). H.L. v. 408; Sli. iv. i(). 



" r. principalis (Linni. Cal. xiii., 20^: lUitkT, Furcii^ii Finches in 

 " Captivity. Plato jiaj^-e _79. 



"Rwgk: Tro])ical Africa. tll.L. Africa generally south of about 

 " 17 N. lat. Also the islands of St. Thomas and I'ernando Po. Sh." 



" Common in the (lambia. but not very noticeable 

 " during" the dry season when out of colour, but a g;oocl many 

 " are to be found in the catchers' cag'es, and towards the 

 " beginning" of and during the rains they are quite conunon 

 " in suitable places." 



As a painstaking" writer on Gambian Birds Dr. Hopkinson 

 is well known to readers of Bird Xotks, and this, his latest 

 effort, will be welcomed l^y all interested in African birds, and 

 will be indispensable to their bookshelves. 



<>^-f-^ 



Correspondence. 



SHORT ECLIPSE PERIOD OF JACKSON'S WHYDAH. 

 Sir, — Perhaps it may be of interest that a cock Jackson's Whydah, 

 which has l)een in my outdoor aviary alaout four years, tnoulted about three 

 weeks ago, and lias since then come into full colour again. It looks in perfect 

 plumage. 



Usually it has gone out of colour in Autumn, and has remained so all 

 the Winter. 



Louth, October loth, 1919. E. E- P.ENTLEY. 



Such instances are not very uncommon, and occur among both 

 Whvdahs and Weavers : instances of the latter have occurred in which both 

 a lengthening or .shortening of the eclipse period has occurred, and also 

 cases in which acclimatised birds, usually moulting and coming into colour 

 normally, have failed to go out of colour at all for one or more seasons. — Ep, 



