eS Sey Le ea 
VIDUA PRINCIPALIS, 4.53 
with it in Mossamedes, where it bears the name of “ Kilatembo,” as 
well as at Quillengues. 
Head, throat, back, wings, upper and under tail-coverts, and tail 
black ; neck, and remainder of the body buff, shaded with chestnut 
on the sides of the body, back of the neck, and centre of the chest. 
This species is easily distinguished by having the four elongated 
centre tail-feathers broader than the others, and may further be 
distinguished by the black bill. Length, 11 inches; culmen, 0:4; 
wing, 2°9; tail, 8°1 ; tarsus, 0°65. 
Figs. Buff. Pl. Enl. 194, figs. 1, 2. 
439, Vipua ruaia (D.) Shaft-tailed Widow Bird. 
We have received this bird from Mr, Arnot at Colesberg, and 
Mr. F. A. Barratt met with it near Rustenberg. Mr. T. Hi. 
Buckley procured a male on the Limpopo River in November, and 
the late Mr. Frank Oates obtained a series at Tati. Mr. I’. H. 
Guillemard once met with it in the Marico district, and Mr. T. 
Ayres states that during Mr. Jameson’s expedition several of these 
species were seen chasing each other about near Selenia Pan, and 
were also fairly abundant near Kanye and in the Matabele country, 
They affect well-wooded country with open patches of grass land. 
Mr. Andersson states that it visits Damara Land and the adjacent 
parts during the wet season, and is then by no means uncommon, 
Anchieta has only met with it once in Benguela. 
Sides of head, under parts of body, and round the neck, rufous ; 
hind part of neck spotted with black ; plumage above, lower part 
of thighs, and vent, black ; four middle tail-feathers nearly 10’ long, 
and webbed only for about two inches at the end, the rest simple 
shafts; other feathers even, short, and black; bill and legs red. 
Female.—Brown, and without the long-tail feathers. Length, 
5’’; tail (without long feathers), 2’’; wing, 2’ 10’. The peculiar 
shafted tail-feathers distinguish this species, 
Fig. Vieill. Ois. Chant, pls. 34, 35. 
440. Vipua principatis (L.) Common Widow Bird. 
These birds are found in small flocks throughout the colony, The 
male only assumes the long tail-feathers during the breeding season. 
In the winter he closely resembles the female, who is clad in a sober 
livery of mottled brown and black on the upper parts, whitish on 
