200 GLOSSY BLAO BENGALY. 



Another circumstance has also conspired to involve 

 this particular species in error. There actually 

 exists in Brazil a small finch of the same size and 

 of the same glossy blackness, hut without the pale 

 hill and feet of Amadina nitens. The little atten- 

 tion that even our modern ornithologists have yet 

 bestowed upon this family, has led them to think 

 these two black finches were mere varieties. The 

 American bird, however, is a Tiaris*^ and has no 

 spurious quill-feathers. The African species, on 

 the contrary, possesses this character so peculiar to 

 the family of weavers. 



Having now cleared the scientific history of this 

 little Bengaly from the errors of compilers, it is 

 only necessary to add a few words on its peculiari- 

 ties. It is the longest winged species we yet know 

 of; this, with its glossy plumage, sufficiently shows 

 its analogy to the swallows, or the tribe which 

 Amadina represents in the circle of the Plociance. 

 The hind-toe and its claw are manifestly shorter 

 than the tarsus ; which character, with its even tail, 

 renders it a perfect example of the sub-genus Ama- 

 dina. The spurious quill is very minute, and the 

 white spot on the flanks is only seen on raising the 

 feathers. The quills and tail are dull black. 



Total length, 4^ ; bill small, -f^ ; wings, 2^ ; 

 tail beyond, J; from the base, 1^; tarsus, fa. 



* Tiaris nitens, Swains. (Fringilla splendens, VieUl. Ency. 

 Mdh. 981.) 



