304 CLASS AVES. 



try in the curious collection of the Rev. Mr. Hennah, from 

 Mexico, which does not appear to have been hitherto de- 

 scribed. The general- colour of the bird is blue slate, but on 

 the top of the head this colour becomes nearly black ; on the 

 back are several oval patches, and on the throat and breast 

 are waved spots of the like colour ; the wing feathers, in 

 general, are black, or dusky, with a dusky yellow margin, 

 and the tail is nearly black. 



A specimen of this species has been lately set up in the 

 British Museum, and a drawing of it is understood to be in 

 the collection of the Prince Musignano, under the name here 

 adopted. 



As for the other finches enumerated in the text, and addi- 

 tions, we could say little on them here calculated to interest 

 the reader. Little, indeed, has been ascertained by naturalists 

 respecting them, and to notice that little would only involve 

 us in tedious and uninstructive repetitions. We therefore 

 pass at once to the 



Widow-birds. — Such is the appellation of a handsome 

 family of birds, found not only in Africa, but also in Asia, 

 as far as the Philippine islands. This name, which seems to 

 suit them well enough, whether by reason of the black which 

 predominates in their plumage, or their long sweeping tail, 

 has, however, been given them through mistake. The Portu- 

 guese gave them the name of birds of Whidha, from a king- 

 dom of Africa, where they are very common ; and the resem- 

 blance of this word to that signifying widow in the Portuguese 

 language, proved a source of deception to foreigners, more 

 especially as the latter name agreed so well with many cha- 

 racters of the birds. The females are never adorned with the 

 long tail, and the males have it only during six months, 

 which are not the same for all. With the young it appears 

 to depend on the day of their birth ; with the adult, on the 

 climate which they inhabit. The first moulting in which the 



