CRIMSON-BILLED WEAVER. 189 



scssed many individuals, and he gives some interest- 

 ing accounts of its manners, which we regret our 

 space will not permit us to transcribe. 



In advanced age, or perhaps when in the highest 

 plumage, the males sometimes assume a richness of 

 colouring far more beautiful than what the gene- 

 rality possess. M. Vieillot has figured one of 

 these under the name of Le Diock, from the rose 

 colour which supplants the ordinary tint on the 

 crown, throat and under plumage. In every thing 

 else, he observes, the two are precisely alike. 



Authors assert that this species varies consider- 

 ably, but they do not appear to be aware that this 

 variation, with the above exception, is merely caused 

 by the moulting of the young males, which, like 

 nearly all other birds, are first like the females. The 

 figures of M. Yieillot are certainly the best, but 

 neither are very accurate, for the tails of all are 

 represented as forked, instead of being even ; the 

 feathers, however, are nevertheless divaricated, that 

 is, the two middle are very slightly shorter than the 

 others. A truly forked tail is entirely unknown in 

 this sub-family. 



Total length about 4^ inches ; bill, from the 

 gape, T 4 o ; wings, 2 ; tail beyond, T % ; tarsus, T 7 - ; 

 hind toe and claw the same. 



