152 PLOCEID^l HYPOCHERA 



Genus VI. HYPOCHERA. 



Type. 



Hypochera, Bonaparte, Conspectus, i, p. 450 (1850) ...H. aenea. 



Bill short, conical, broad at the base, the culmen curved, some- 

 what swollen and rounded, pointed at the tip. Nostrils basal, the 

 opening rounded and almost entirely hidden by nasal plumes. 

 Wings moderately long, the outer quill minute, the second shorter 

 than the third, the fourth and fifth equal and longest ; tail short and 

 nearly square ; tarsus as long as the middle toe, covered anteriorly 

 with broad scales ; toes slender and rather short, the lateral toes 

 nearly equal, the outer united at its base ; claws small and curved. 

 Plumage : in winter the male like the female ; in summer the male 

 with a special breeding dress quite unlike that of the hen. 



About seven species and races are included in the genus, all 

 confined to the Ethiopian region. One species and two races range 

 into South Africa. 



The Hypochera or Short-tailed Widow Birds form a connecting 

 link between the Vidua or Long-tailed Widow Birds and the Fring- 

 illidce, or Finches. In their seasonal changes of plumage, apart 

 from the assumption of a long tail by the male in spring, in the 

 colours of the females and in their general habits they resemble the 

 Viduce, but they build their nests in holes of walls and buildings 

 and lay white eggs. Dr. Euss, from observations made on the 

 northern H. cenea in confinement, is led to remark, " The ' Atlas- 

 Bird ' is commonly numbered among the Ornamental-finches, but 

 nevertheless incorrectly, for he proves his correspondence with the 

 Whydah-finches in nearly every particular ; he has the yearly 

 change of colour, the fowl-like scratching, the jumping-flight love- 

 sport, as well as the tempestuous disposition." 



Key to the Species. 



a. Entire head and body in the male during the 



breeding season dull purplish -black with but 

 little gloss, sometimes with a white patch 

 on each side of the lower back H. funerea, p. 153. 



b. Head and body in the male at the correspond- 



ing season deeper and more glossy purplish 



black H . f. nigerrima, p. 154. 



c. Head and body in the breeding male greenish- 



black glossed steel green H. f. amauroptera , p. 154. 



