16G THE FINCHES AND WEAVER BIRDS OF THE SUDAN 



white collar and whitish rump. Tail feathers very long and narrow, black. Uuder- 

 parts white. Bill red. Females (length -i'TS inches) are rufous-buff, with a mottling 

 of dark centres to the feathers, and the centre of the crown buff between two 

 blackish stripes. Males in winter are similar to them. Ranges as far north as 

 Shendi, but is much commoner farther south. I have it from Fachi Shoya on the 

 White Nile to Mongalla and Lado, and from the Zeraf ; from Wau and Chak Chak, 

 and Eoseires. It is described as breeding in colonies, building woven nests suspended 

 in trees or high grass. 



27. Vidua paradisea, Linn. (Paradise Whydah). Length, about 5-5 inches; 

 wing, 3 ; but in the breeding male two very long and broad black tail feathers, set 

 edgeways, are assumed, bringing its length up to 15 or 16 inches. Breeding males 

 have the head, throat, and upper plumage black, with a pale yellow collar round 

 the neck ; breast glossy mahogany colour, shading into buff. Females and non- 

 breeding males are reddish-brown above, streaked with black. Head with the 

 centre of the crown buff between two broad black stripes, beneath which are broad 

 buff eyebrows. Beneath buffy-white. 



Fairly common and widely distributed. The long-tailed males are conspicuous 

 objects, but are- in small proportion to the females ; the species appears to be 

 polygamous. I have met with it from the Setit on the east to El Obeid on the 

 west, and from Eoseires to the White Nile and Mongalla. Its long tail has given 

 it the Arab name of "Abu Self" — the sword-bearer. 

 Genus : GoUuspasser 



28. GoUuspasser macriirHs, Gm. (Yellow-mantled Whydah). Breeding male : 

 length, 7-6 inches ; wing, 3-2. Velvety black, with bright chrome-yellow on the 

 back and shoulders, and a longish fan-shaped tail. Females and young males, 

 5'3 inches ; wing, 2-6, mottled dark brown, with paler edges to the feathers, and a 

 buff eyebrow. Adult non-breeding males similar, but with a chrome-yellow patch 

 on the bend of the wing. Common in the Bahr-El-Ghazal, frequenting open grassy 

 plains near rivers or "khors." I have it from RafBle, Kojali, Chak Chak, Pongo 

 and Chell Elvers, etc., but not in the beautiful breeding plumage, which is assumed 

 in the rains only. 



Genus : Urobrachya 



29. Urobrachya phaenicea, Heugl. (Heuglin's Fan-tailed Whydah). Length, 6-3 

 inches ; wing, 3-4 ; females rather smaller. Breeding males black, with a patch of 

 orange-red and cinnamon on the bend of the wing. Females and non-breeding 

 males very similar to those of GoUuspasser viacrurus, but with some orange-red on 

 the bend of the wing. Common on marshes and plains of high grass near water. 

 I have it from the White Nile south of Kaka, along the Bahr-El-Ghazal to Meshra, 

 the Jur Eiver, the Sobat, and from the Binder. Flocks fly low over the grass, 

 with a rather heavy flight. 



All the above genera of the ViduimB feed principally upon grass seeds, and 

 I do not think they are at all injurious to cultivation. The birds of the next 

 two genera appear to be very mischievous. 

 Genus : Pyromelana 



30. Pyromelana franciscana, Isert. (Franciscan Bishop-bird). Known as the 

 "Dura bird" in the Sudan. Length, 4-8 inches; wing, 3-4. Breeding males 

 scarlet and velvety-black, the top of the head and underparts from the chest 

 downwards being of the latter colour, and the throat, neck, and back scarlet. 



