496 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



faded blackish brown, assuming a paler hue on the wings and lateral 

 tail feathers. The whole body is tinged with this faded black, gradu- 

 ally narrowing as it descends to the middle of the breast ; a broad, 

 rich orange-brown collar proceeds from the back of the neck, uniting 

 with a tinge of the same colour on the sides of the breast, this last 

 hue passing into pale buff colour on the body, abdomen, and thighs, 

 the under tail coverts being of the same colour as the upper ones 

 a hue to which the bird is indebted for its popular and scientific 

 name. The tail feathers are black; the four lateral ones on each 



Fig. 214. Java Sparrows. 



side slightly graduated, and rather longer than the one immediately 

 above. The next two are the long, drooping feathers, externally 

 convex, so conspicuous in the male bird, which, in fine specimens, 

 measure a foot in length from base, and about three-quarters of an 

 inch in width. The body of the bird is about the size of a Canary. 

 They are natives of South Africa and Senegal. 



Near to the Whidah Birds we may place the Java Sparrow, of the 

 Eastern Archipelago (Loxia oryztvora, Fig. 214). They are eagerly 

 sought for as pets, in consequence of their brilliant plumage and the 

 facility with which they learn innumerable tricks. 



The Weaver Birds (Ploceus, Cuvier) close the series of Fringillidcc. 



