262 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



THE WHYDAHS. 



THESE form a natural group of Finches nearly allied to the 

 Weavers. They are, as a rule, fond of the neighbourhood of 

 water, some of the species building in trees, but others in long grass 

 near the ground, whilst the Combasou builds in holes. 



L/ike the Weavers, these birds assume, more or less closely, the 

 plumage of the hen, after the termination of their breeding season, 

 and the latter sex is exceedingly like the hen Weavers in colouring. 



In their habits the Whydahs are readily distinguished from all 

 the Ornamental Finches and from the Weavers, inasmuch as all of 

 them, when feeding upon the ground, scratch the earth with their feet 

 with a shuffling motion, somewhat reminding one of a fowl.* When 

 courting, they rise and fall in the air above the hen, flapping their 

 wings rythmically and then suddenly swoop down at her with a 

 squeal. 



All the Whydahs have a harsh song, approaching that of the 

 Weavers, but sometimes with a few clear notes interspersed : like the 

 latter bird they will live entirely upon millet, canary and paddy-rice, 

 or oats, caring little for green food. They do not seem to be great 

 insect-eaters, though they will at times accept mealworms or green 

 caterpillars. 



With the exception of the Pin-tailed Whydah, these birds seem 

 tolerably peaceable towards their associates :f they are hardy, long- 

 lived ; and, when in colour, are a great ornament to an aviary ; the 

 long-tailed species being especially admired by visitors, on account of 

 their unique appearance among the short-tailed birds : the smaller 

 species, particularly when purchased in their undress uniform, are by 

 no means expensive. 



Whydahs are for the most part polygamous and, in their nidifica- 

 tion, approach the Ornamental Finches rather than the Weavers. 



* Curiously enough the Soiig-Sparrows of .South America do the same thing. A.G.B. 



t I have, however, known exceptions to this rule, so that I do not recommend that they 

 should be implicitly trusted. A.G.B. 



