64 How to Sex Cage Birds. 



Dwarf or Bib Finch (Spermestes nana). 



According to Shelley, the female " differs in being browner, with 

 no grey or black on the head or throat ; chin and throat very pale 

 ashy brown • upper and under tail-coverts entirely brown " {Birds 

 of Africa, vol. iv. part 1, p. 174). This, however, is unquestionably 

 a description of the immature plumage ; the hen may perhaps be a 

 trifle browner and with a smaller throat-patch, but she is not 

 destitute of one. 



Chapter XII. 



WHYDAH-LIKE WEAVERS {Viduince). 



This group includes the true Whydahs, Fire- Weavers, Red-bills, 

 and a few others. They invariably differ greatly in the summer 

 dress of the sexes, but are much more alike in winter. 



The Combassou (Hypochera cenea). 



In breeding plumage the cock is black glossed with greenish-blue ; 

 whereas the hen presents much the colouring and general character 

 of a small Sedge Warbler. In winter the cock much more closely 

 resembles the hen, but may be distinguished at once by its superior 

 size, broader skull, paler beak more swollen from centre backwards, 

 the much blacker streaking of the upper parts and cheeks, and the 

 browner breast and flanks. Owing to the black markings on the 

 wing-coverts and the very dark flights, the pale borders to the 

 greater coverts form a very distinct band across the wing. 



Splendid Black Wiiydah or Long-tailed Combassou 

 (Vidua hypocherina). 



The female differs from the male much as in the preceding species ; 

 the male when in winter plumage has not been described, excepting 

 as being similar to the female, but it is sure to be a trifle larger, and 

 probably with darker markings. 



Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua principalis). 



Roughly speaking, the cock in breeding plumage is a black and 

 white bird, with scarlet beak and long slender tail ; the hen is, 

 roughly speaking, a sandy brownish bird, with black centres to the 

 feathers of the upper parts and a scarlet beak, but short tail. In 

 the winter plumage the cock more nearly resembles the hen, but is 

 distinctly larger. 



