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On Whydahs.



these birds very keen on live food, and both gentles and mealworms

were very freely given to the young hy the hen.


The Red-shouldered Whydah ( U. axillaris ) is a heavier-built

bird than either P. arclens or P. laticauda, but the absence of the

long tail makes it look smaller. In breeding plumage the cock is

black. His wing feathers are edged with brown, and he has a bright

patch of scarlet on the shoulders. The beak, which is large and

powerful, is light bluish-grey. When displaying he spreads his

wings so as to show the red on the shoulders in just the same way

as do the Red-winged Blackbird and Troupial. The feathers around

the neck are also fluffed up and the tail feathers spread out fanwise.

Quite early in the year he built a nest in a low bush, and his hen

laid two eggs therein. These were white, thickly speckled with

small red spots. In my absence on holiday the Red-collared Whydah

hen took a fancy to the same nest, and on my return I found the

eggs of both birds in the nest, so I removed them for my collection.

Later on he built her another nest in a creeper and this time she was

undisturbed. Tw t o eggs only were laid. The incubation was twelve

days. One young one was hatched, but it only survived a short

time. The song of this bird is harsh and unmusical, hut not very

loud.


Of Paradise Whydahs ( S. paradisea ) I have seven, four cocks

and three hens. I have long wanted to breed this handsome little

bird, but it seems to be a difficult proposition. So far, none of my

males have shown the slightest sign of coming into colour this season,

and of course if they do so now it will be too late to attempt to breed

from them.* I fancy that to get success one will have to secure a

cock that comes into colour about April or May, which it is not

always possible to do. I shall keep on trying and one day may be

able to send an account of their successful rearing.


The Pintail Whydah (N. principalis) is another Whydah that

it does not seem easy to breed, although Mrs. Annington succeeded

in doing so in 1909, a year which must be described as a good

Whydah year. No account of this success was available for publica¬

tion, so very little is known of this bird’s nesting habits in captivity

In the case of my Pintails I lost my hen early in the year from



* [Autumn].



