112 WHIDAH-BIRD. 



And farthest from the pangs of woe, 



That ne'er to life within thee start. 

 Still strike thy song! The spell is o'er; 

 What once seemed grief is grief no more. 



The habits of the Whidah-finch in a 

 wild state, are similar to those of the rest 

 of its tribe; though, what may be the 

 character of its song in its native woods, 

 is as yet unknown, save from the imper- 

 fect descriptions of the African boors. 

 Its rich plumage is its principal attrac- 

 tion, being of a deep black, with the ex- 

 ception of the belly, which is a reddish- 

 cream, and its sides, which are a bright- 

 chestnut. Its chief ornament, however, is 

 its Bird of Paradise-like tail, which falls in 

 a graceful curve. Its song in confine- 

 ment is low, sweet and thrilling, at times 

 scarcely heard, but at others clear and 

 beautifully distinct from the notes of all 

 other birds. 



It may be kept upon canary and other 

 seed, and treated when ill exactly like the 



