EUPLECTES TAHA. 



Form, &c. — Typical. Wings, when folded, reach over the first half of the 

 tail ; the first, or spurious quill feather, very small, the second but very little 

 shorter than the third, which is the longest ; tail even. Tarsi rather slender; 

 outer and inner toes of equal length, and rather longer than the hinder one, 

 the middle toe considerably longest ; claws long, slender, and but slightly 

 curved. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Inches. Lines. 

 Length from the tip of the bill to the 



point of the tail 4 9 



of the tail 1 5 



of the wings when closed 2 7 



Inches. Lines. 



Length of the tarsus 9 



the middle toe 7 



the outer toe 4^ 



the hinder toe 4 



The adult female, during the summer and winter exhibits nearly the same 

 coloured plumage as the male in winter. 



Tlie present species is more nearly allied to Euplectes melanog aster, {Loxia melanogaster, 

 Lath.) than to any other species of the genus yet described ; it is, however, readily to be 

 distinguished from it, by the under part of the body being black, while in E. melanogaster, the 

 middle of the breast and belly only are black, the sides being yellow. 



Immediately preceding the breeding season, the birds of this species begin to moult, at 

 which time the new feathers of the males appear with the colours described, and these 

 colours they retain until the approach of autumn, when they gradually lose them, and assume 

 the tints of the females. The species does not appear to extend south of 26°, at least we dis- 

 covered no individuals prior to reaching that latitude ; and the natives more to the southward, 

 appeared unacquainted with the bird. In the districts to the north of 26°, however, it was 

 common, and large flocks were often observed among the trees near to the banks of 

 rivers. Though they were generally among trees at the time we passed through the country 

 we were informed they leave them on the commencement of the breeding season, for the reeds 

 which here and there skirt the rivers, and from those they suspend their nests. Like Euplectes 

 oryx, they prove very destructive to gardens during the summer season, and it requires some 

 of the natives to be constantly on watch to save their crops from being entirely devoured by 

 the one or other of these species. 



It may not be out of place to mention that the species of this genus inhabiting Southern 

 Africa are 



Euplectes oryx, {Loxia oryx, Lin.) 



Euplectes Capensis, {Loxia Capcnsis, Lin.) 



Euplectes Taha, Smith. 



