134 



PLOCEID^] 



UROBRACHYA 



72. Urobrachya axillaris. Red-shouldered Widoiu Bird. 



Vidua axillaris, Smith, III. Zool. 8. Afr., Birds, pi. 17 (1838) ; Layard, 



B. S. Afr. p. 189 (1867). 

 Penthetria axillaris, Sharpe, ed. LayarcVs B. S. Afr. pp. 461, 849 



(1884). 

 Urobrachya axillaris, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii, p. 224 (1890) ; Shelley, 



B. Afr. i, p. 24 (1896). 



Coliuspasser axillaris, Shelley, Ibis, 1886, p. 349. 

 " Flop " of Natal Colonists ; " Entaka " Zulu. 



Urobrachya axillaris <J . 



Description. Adult male in breeding plumage. General colour 

 all over, deep velvety black ; the least wing-coverts orange- scarlet ; 

 the median coverts cinnamon-red ; edge of wing, axillaries, and 

 under wing- coverts cinnamon colour. 



Iris dark brown ; bill pale blue ; feet brown. 



Length 6'30 ; wing 3-50; tail 3'00; tarsus 1-00; culmen O65. 



Adult female. Above sandy buff streaked with black ; lesser 

 wing-coverts orange streaked with black ; remaining wing-coverts, 



