THE FINCHES AND WEAVRli BIRDS OF THE SUDAN IGl 



livery of black and scarlet, or black and yellow, with thick upper tail coverts as 

 long as the tail. Females, young, and non-breeding males are mottled-brown. 



[Notn. — In Gnliiiispasser, JJrohraclii/a, and Pt/romelaiia the neck feathers of breeding 

 males form, or can be erected into, a frill round the neck. Plumage of breeding 

 males is black and bright-red, or black and yellow.] 

 Qnelea (Dioches, or Eed-billed Weavers). In these the bill is strong, cone-shaped, and 

 bright-red. The tail is square and short. The back plumage is mottled always 

 with black stripes, as these are retained in the breeding dress of the male, which 

 then differs from the females and young in acquiring some black or red on the head 

 or throat. 



Of the genera of the above family, Pyromelana and Quelea (especially) seem to be 

 the only mischievous ones, liijpochi'ra and Vidua seek their food mostly on the ground, 

 scratching for fallen seeds with curious little backward jumps. CollHspasspr and Urohrachya 

 are mostly birds of marsh or high grass rather than frequenters of cultivation. 



2. Sub-family : E>?trildinie 



This group contains nine genera represented in the Sudan, in recognising which the .Sub-family; 

 following notes may assist :— Est,iUtu,s 



Ainadiiia (Eibbon Waxbills, or Cut-throats). Bill very conical and broad at the base, 



swollen and rounded. Plumage brown, much barred or banded, with a crimson bar on 



the throat of males. Tail short and rounded. 

 PhUrtairiix (Sociable Weavers). Nostrils exposed. (In all the other genera of Estn'Jdinx 



these are covered by the feathers of the forehead). Tail short and square. (In the 



other genera it is graduated or rounded). The Sudan species is plain pale-brown, 



with some black on the wings and tail and the crown of the head light grey. 

 Uroloncha. (Silverbills). Bill short, stout, and swollen, its basal edges rectangular when 



looked at from above ; leaden or dull silver-coloured. Tail fan-shaped, with the 



two central feathers longest and narrowing into points. 

 Ortyf/ospiza (Bar-breasted Manikins). Finches of very small size. Tail short and rounded, 



about half the length of the wing, tlie outstretched feet reaching beyond it. Culmen 



(the upper ridge of the bill) nearly straight. 

 Sperinestes (Bronze Manikins). Differ from Oi-tytjospiza in having the culmen curved, 



and in the extended legs not exceeding the tail. Head, and a patch on each shoulder, 



bronze-green in the Sudan species. 

 Unv/jinthus (Cordon Bleu Waxbill). Of small size. Graduated tail longer than the wing. 



Plumage blue and brown in the Sudan species, with a crimson patch on each side 



of the head in males. 

 Fjnti-ihla (Waxbills). Of small size. Very like the last genus in shape, but with the 



tail shorter than the wing. Second wing feather shorter than the fifth. The upper tail 



coverts (the feathers covering the base of the tail) always red, iinlesa there is a crimson 



band through the eye. 

 Larjonnsticta (Fire-finches). Of small size like the Waxbills, but with the first long feather 



in the wing becoming very narrow at the end, owing to the cut-away shape of the inner 



web. There are generally characteristic small white spots on the breast or sides. 

 Fytelia (Pytelias). Larger birds than the Waxbills and Fire-finches, with the first long 



wing feather narrowing at the end in the same way. Upper plumage greenish or grey ; 



lower surface closely barred. Outer edges of the wing feathers red or yellow. 



