304 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



primary may indicate affinity ; but, as this particular feather evidently 

 varies in length in the same subfamily, it is equally clear that some of 

 the Viduine Weavers must more nearly approach their Ploceine cousins 

 than others do ; so that, from the view of a student of living birds, it 

 is necessarily to be regarded as of less importance than a total dis- 

 similarity of habits, winter plumage, song, etc. At the same time, this 

 and all other characters should be considered by every bird-lover, and 

 given their full weight : no structural peculiarity should ever be disre- 

 garded, for he who studies facts, from every point of view, will assuredly 

 be most capable of sound judgment. 



THE MADAGASCAR WEAVER. 



Foitdia madagascariensis, LINN. 



AN inhabitant of Madagascar and the neighbouring islands ; it is 

 frequently imported and almost always obtainable : notwithstanding 

 its quarrelsome and somewhat spiteful disposition, its brilliant colouring 

 and liveliness make it a general favourite. 



The male, in breeding plumage, is bright scarlet, the feathers of 

 the mantle, scapulars, and back, with brown bases and broad black 

 centres ; lesser and median coverts black, edged with scarlet ; greater 

 coverts black, the inner ones edged with scarlet, the outer with sandy- 

 olive brown ; flight-feathers black with sandy-brown borders ; tail-feathers 

 black, with pale brown edges ; lores and feathers encircling the eye 

 black ; flanks and tips of feathers on the vent olive-brownish ; under 

 wing-coverts whitish olivaceous ; axillaries rosy whitish ; flights and 

 tail-feathers below greyish, with pale dust-brown margins. Length 57% 

 inches. Beak black, legs flesh-coloured, iris brown. 



The female is dull olive-brown, the feathers of the upper surface, 

 excepting on the lower back and upper tail-coverts, black-centred, 

 those of the head and neck less prominently than the others ; the 

 wing and tail-feathers blackish, with pale olivaceous margins ; sides of 



