WHYDAH BIRD. 



105 



daily ; but great care should be taken that they are 

 kept in a warm room, and, if possible, in the warm 

 rays of tlie sun. When moulting, a pinch of Cayenne 

 pepper, sprinkled on the sand in the bottom of the 

 cage, once or twice a week, will be found beneficial. 

 They are fond of the sun, and delight to bask in its 

 warmth ; but care must be taken not to leave them 

 exposed to cold draughts or the dampness of the 

 night air. With the above precautions, all these 

 birds can be kept in cages for many years. 



The Paradise Whydah Bird is a well-known 

 cage-bird, and one of great beauty. Some fanciers 

 have given this bird the name of " the widow," from its 

 quiet manner and its general color of plumage. The 

 name is really that of a kingdom on the east coast 

 of Africa. The great beauty of the paradise why- 

 dah bird is in its curiously-formed tail, the two 

 centre-feathers of which are very broad, and about 

 four inches long : the outer feathers are in some 

 cases from thirteen to sixteen inches in length, 

 broad in the centre, and tapering down to a delicate 

 point. These birds are easily kept in aviaries, and 

 in Southern France they have been bred in cages. 

 The shaft-tailed whydah is a smaller and much 

 more delicate bird : the tail is entirely different from 

 the paradise whydah, yet quite as interesting. It is 

 short and fan-shaped ; the body of the middle 

 feathers is extended into naked quills, which are 

 about seven or eight inches long. The song of this 

 species is of excellent quality. The weavers are a 

 most companionable bird: they are brought from 



