126 



THE DOMINICAN BUNTING. 



Embenza serena, LINNJEUS ; La Veuve Dominicaine, BUFKON ; Der Domini- 

 kaiierammer, BECHSTEIN. 



THIS species, six inches and three quarters in length, is 

 smaller, more rare, and nearly twice as dear as the preceding. 

 It comes from Africa likewise. The beak is red; the feet 

 grey ; the upper part of the head is black, but the top is 

 reddish white, which extends over the whole of the under part 

 of the body, the chin, and temples, and even the under part of 

 the tail ; sometimes this tint fades into pure white : the upper 

 part of the neck and the back are black, but the feathers are 

 edged with dusky white : the inner wing coverts being white, 

 give the wings the appearance of being so when folded, but 

 they are black, the quill- feathers alone are edged with white ; 

 the tail is also black ; the two middle feathers terminate in a 

 point, and are two inches longer than the others, which gradu- 

 ally diminish in length the farther they are from the middle, 

 the three first only have the points white, but the two outer 

 ones have the beard white and the edge pale orange. 



The female is entirely brown, and the tail-feathers are of 

 equal length. This species also moults twice in the year : the 

 male loses its tail for six months, and the white of its plumage 

 becomes less pure. 



OBSERVATIONS. This bird requires the same treatment as the former, 

 and sings in the same very agreeable manner. 



THE SHAFT-TAILED BUNTING. 



Embenza regia, LINNVEOS ; La Veuve a quatre brins, BUFFON ; Der KOaigsammer, 

 BECHSTEIN. 



THIS is also more rare than the Whidah bunting. Its length 

 to the end of the short feathers of the tail is nearly four niches 

 and a half. The beak and feet are red ; the upper part of the 

 body black ; the sides of the head, the eyes, neck, and under 

 part of the body are orange. 



The female is brown, and has no long feathers in the tail. 

 The winter plumage of the male is grey, like the linnet, but 

 rather brighter. 



OBSERVATIONS. This bird comes from Africa, and is not less admired 

 than the preceding. 



