BLACK-BELLIED WEAVER. 183 



Notwithstanding the difference of its colour, this 

 species has a close affinity to E. ignicolor^ having 

 not only the same structure, hut even the covers 

 so long as to reach half the length of the tail- 

 feathers. 



The general ground colour of the plumage is 

 pale yellow, similar to that of the canary. A deep 

 hlack velvety patch envelopes the ear, sides of the 

 head, chin, and front of the throat ; the breast and 

 its sides are pale yellow, having a slight tinge of 

 rufous in the middle. The middle of the body and 

 flanks beneath are covered by another patch of 

 black, which is pointed towards the breast, almost 

 dividing it into two portions, yet without touching 

 the black on the throat ; the thighs and under- 

 covers- are yellow. Wings and tail, brown, with 

 pale edges ; the latter short and even. The inter- 

 scapulars are pale yellow, varied with some brown 

 stripes ; bill, black ; legs, pale. 



Brown, who seems to have observed this bird 

 alive in confinement, observes, that " in winter its 

 plumage changes to a light brown." 



Total length, 4^ inches ; bill, ^ ; wings, 2^ ; tail 

 beyond, 1 ; ditto from the base, ]^ ; tarsus, g. 



