THE LONG-TAILED WHYDAH. 275 



Dr. Russ' experience in breeding this species is so far satisfactory, 

 that it proves the correctness of my belief, expressed in an article on 

 Whydahs (Feathered World, Oct. I3th, 1893) that the hens, and not 

 the cocks, build the nest. 



Illustrations from living specimens and skins in the author's 

 collection. 



THE LONG-TAILED WHYDAH. 



Chera procne, BODD. 



AN extremely beautiful South African species, ranging from the 

 eastern districts of Cape Colony to Natal and the Transvaal, 

 also found on the Canene river and in Benguela in S.W. Africa. 

 Unfortunately, not imported in any great numbers, and consequently 

 never to be obtained at a moderate price, like the two preceding 

 species. 



When in colour the male bird is glossy black, the under parts 

 having the appearance of watered silk ; a large patch of brilliant 

 scarlet covers the lesser wing -coverts, the median coverts being 

 yellowish white, the greater coverts and flights edged with white or 

 pale brown, but the primaries only near the end of the outer webs : 

 the legs and beak are dull red, the iris brown. Length, including 

 the tail, usually averages 19 J inches, though specimens sometimes 

 occur in which the tail alone attains a length of 18 inches; probably 

 only in very old birds. 



The female is pale tawny brown, the lesser wing-coverts reddish- 

 tawny ; all the feathers above (including the latter) streaked and 

 spotted with blackish ; a broad yellowish eyebrow ; the lores and 

 feathers surrounding the eye whitish; ear -coverts reddish brown, 

 streaked with black; chin, breast and abdomen uniformly yellowish; 

 under tail-coverts with blackish shaft streaks ; axillaries and under 

 wing-coverts dull black ; flights below dusky, yellowish towards the 

 base of the inner web. Length 7 inches. 



