VIDUA 13 
Genus II. VIDUA. 
In the males only, a great change takes place by the spring moult, the 
four centre tail-feathers becoming very much elongated, while the brown 
mottled colouring is replaced by a more becoming unspotted plumage. Bill 
often red, rather stout and shorter than the head; culmen curved; nasal 
aperture rounded and covered by the frontal feathers. Primaries: 3, 4 and 
5 the longest, 2 about equal to 6. Tail shorter than the wing and nearly 
square, excepting in males in breeding plumage. Tarsi and feet fairly 
slender, with the claws rather long and curved. The nestlings are uniform 
brown. 
Type. 
Vidua, Cuy. Legons Anat. Comp. i. Tabl. 2 (1800) . V. serena. 
Videstrelda, Lafresn. Rey. et Mag. Zool. 1850, p. 325 ? V. regia. 
Steganura, Reichenb. Syst. Av. pl. 76, fig. 3 (1850) . V. paradisea. 
Viduella, Reichenb. Singv. p. 59 (1863) . . . . . Vz. swperciliosa. 
Tetrenura, Reichenb. t.c.p.61 . . . .. . . Vi regia. 
Linura, Reichen. Orn. Centralbl. 1882, p. 91. . . V.z fischeri. 
The five known species of this genus are confined to Tropi- 
eal and South Africa. It is unnecessary to break up such a 
well-marked genus into four, which can be done solely upon 
the form of the elongated tail-feathers assumed by the males 
for the courting season. 
IT call the members of this genus Whydahs, they being as 
well known by that name as by that of Widows, and the 
former name has priority, having been used by Latham in 
1783. Whydah is the name of a town on the coast of West 
Africa in 2° H. long. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
a. Four centre tail-feathers very much elongated Malesin breeding plumage. 
a+, Bill red; elongated tail-feathers narrow. 
a?, Elongated tail-feathers black. 
a. Hlongated tail-feathers of moderate 
breadth throughout their length. 
a*, Entireplumageglossy greenish black hypocherina. 
b+. Underparts white . . . . . . serena. 
