310 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



broad lightish chestnut band ; the breast, which is 

 reddish brown ; and the under parts, which are nearly 

 wdiite. It has four lengthened quills to the tail, the 

 two longest of which measure nearly twelve inches, 

 while the two shorter do not exceed eight, including a 

 long, narrow, filamentous process by which they are 

 terminated. During the winter, when it is destitute of 

 the long tail-feathers, its head is variegated with black 

 and white; its breast and back are of a dull orange 

 covered with dusky spots ; its quill-feathers are dark 

 brown ; and its under parts dirty white. The bill is 

 dusky, the iris of a deep brown approaching to black, 

 and the legs of a yellowish flesh-colour. The younger 

 females differ but little in colour from the winter dress 

 of the males, but after the third year they become of a 

 dusky Ijrown, which they preserve with little variation 

 until they advance in years, when they assume more 

 and more of the summer tinge of the male, but without 

 his lengthened feathers. 



The Widow-birds are natives of Africa, and are found 

 in various parts of its western coast, from Senegal to 

 Angola : it is said that they have also been brought 

 from Mozambique. The present is more frequently seen 

 in Europe than any of the other species of Vidua, but, 

 as far as we are aware, it has not yet been bred in 

 confinement. 



