66 How to Sex Cage Birds. 



female, but the streak-like centre of crown is broader, more 



diffused, and distinctly sandy buff. It may be a trifle larger than 

 the female, but the difference is less marked than in the preceding 

 species. 



Yellow-backed Whydah (Penthetriopais mocrwa). 



The male in breeding plumage is black, with the mantle, scapulars, 

 and lesser wing-coverts chrome-yellow ; remaining wing-feathers 

 mostly with huffish margins. The female above is ashy brown, 

 with 'dark b own centres to feathers; lesser wing-coverts slightly 

 yellowish) a pale buff eyebrow; sides of head pale brown, less 

 mottled than the crown; under parts buff, washed with brown on 

 sides and Hanks, a few darker streaks on sides of breast. The male 

 in winter plumage is similar, but the wings are blacker, and the 

 lesser coverts bright yellow. 



The Whydahs of the genus Urobrachya arc rarely imported, ami 

 need not be considered here. We will therefore proceed to the 

 Fire- Weavers. 



Yellow-shouldered Weaver (Pyromelana capensis). 



Roughly speaking, the male in breeding plumage is a black bird 

 with the lower half of back, least and median coverts bright yellow; 

 scapulars, greater coverts, and flights with pale brown holders. The 

 female is pale brown with blackish centres to the feathers; lesser 

 and median coverts and lower half of back olivaceous-yellow; a 

 yellowish eyebrow streak ; under parts with hlackish streaks, 

 abdomen whitish. The male in winter plumage is somewhat similar 

 but larger, and with the lesser and median coverts and lower back 

 bright yellow as in the breeding plumage. 



Goldex-backed Weaver (Pyromelana aurea). 

 This is a rare species, and the female is unknown, but it probably 

 differs from the male much as does the female of P. capensis. 



Napoleon Weaver (Pyromelana afra). 

 The male in breeding plumage is bright golden yellow; the front 

 and sides of mantle greyish-olivaceous, with broad black centres to 

 the feathers ; wing and tail feathers black, with pale huffish-brown 

 borders; sides of head, chin, and throat, back of breast, and 

 abdomen black ; centre of yellow across chest strongly stained with 

 chestnut. The female is pale brown, the feathers of the upper parts, 

 excepting on rump and upper tail-coverts, with mesial black 

 streaks ;' wing and tail feathers blackish with pale brown i borders ; 

 a broad bullish-white eyebrow streak from beak to back of ear- 

 coverts; chin and throat white tinted with buff, excepting in the 

 centre; breasl pale brown, faintly streaked at the sides; sides of 

 body and thighs pale brown : abdomen white; lower tail-coverts 

 tinted with buff. The male in winter dress is similar, hut slightly 

 larger, and comparison of a series will probably show that the black 



