A Pasha of Twelve Tails 105 
the beautiful tail floating outspread on the surface, bedewed with diamond-like drops 
from the splashing wings. 
Beautiful and interesting as is this bird in captivity, unsolaced by the gentler 
sex of his species, he must be much more so in his wild state, where he has 
attracted the notice of all naturalists. Both in Sir Harry Johnston’s book ‘The 
Uganda Protectorate” and Mr. W. Distant’s “Naturalist in the Transvaal” the male 
has been figured on the wing, but nothing short of an instantaneous photograph could 
do justice to the quaint grace of this king of the finches. 
In disposition the cock is a thorough Oriental, accumulating a harem of from 
ten to fifteen wives; these he takes to some suitable locality overgrown with long 
grass, Im which the ladies of the zenana construct thei nests, each on her own 
account away from the others. ‘Che proud Pasha himself of course gives no assistance, 
but he is not by any means a neglectful husband; for, selecting some point of 
vantage, he keeps guard over his various establishments, now flying out to chase off 
any rival of his own sex and species, and anon going round with a warning call to his 
wives if a man or other dangerous creature approaches. The hens in this case leave their 
nests and creep away under the grass till they can rise and fly at a safe distance. 
It would seem that the tail of Isa-kabuli (to use his Zulu name), like Absalom’s hair, 
is a snare as well as a glory to him. Im spite of its apparently waterproof texture 
as seen at the Gardens, it is positively stated to get so water-logged by a shower of rain 
or the morning dew that its unfortunate proprietor is at times quite unable to rise, and 
falls an ignominious prey to the Zulu boy 
It is a great pity that hens of the 
Long-Tailed Whydah are not imported, and 
that even the males are not often to be 
had. In South Africa I am told they are 
killed as destructive to the crops, but 
surely it would be better to capture the 
marauders and commute the penalty to 
imprisonment and transportation for life. 
Judging from his behaviour at the Zoo, 
Isa-kabuli does not find captivity at all 
depressing, and few people can have seen 
the bird without wondering if it were not 
possible to procure it for private aviaries. 
BY a a? 
Photograph by W. P. Dando. 
LONG-TAILED WHYDAH BIRD. 
