RE5-BILLED WHIDAH. 



remarked, there is a deep black spot on the chin, 

 not the least of which is seen in the other. 



Total length, with the middle tail-feathers, about 

 ] inches ; without the long feathers, 4| ; wings, 2 j* D 

 >ail, without the middle-feathers, 2 T % ; tarsus, | . 



YELLOW-BACKED WHIDAH. 



Vidua chrysonotus, SWAINS. 



Velvet black ; shoulder-covers and inter-scapulars, bright 

 yellow ; secondary and tertial quills, with their covers mar- 

 gined with whitish. 



Fringilla chrysoptera, Vieill. Ois. Chant. PI. 41. Moineau du 

 Royaume de Juda, PI. Enl. 183, 1. Jig. pessima. 



THERE seems to be no less than three distinct species 

 mixed up in the Synopsis of Birds, under the name 

 of Emberiza longicauda. This confusion was trans- 

 ferred into succeeding compilations, until Dr. La- 

 tham in his last work appears to have omitted the 

 whole. We should have supposed that our present 

 species, and that figured by Brown in his Illustra- 

 tions, pi. 11., had been the same, but he makes no 

 allusion to the yellow on the back; and Dr. Riip- 

 pell has assured us that a species quite agreeing 

 with this of Brown is actually found in Abyssinia. 

 "Both have yellow wing-covers ; but the distinction 

 of the soecies now before us rests on the back being 



