i So 



cassell's book of birds. 



large bird is not less than twenty and a half inches, the longest tail-feathers measuring fifteen and a 



half inches, and the wing five and a half inches. 



The Long-tailed Widow Bird is social in its habits, and must certainly be reckoned amongst the 



races that are polygamists, as it is by no 

 means uncommon to see flocks containing 

 about eighty females to not more than ten or 

 fifteen males. As with our Barn-door Fowls, 

 some of the old females acquire the plumage 

 of the male. Marshes and bogs afford the 

 breeding - places preferred by this species. 

 The nest, which is round, is generally sus- 

 pended from a reed, and formed of some 

 green plant, the entrance to the interior being 

 effected by means of a long passage, opening 

 on the side that is nearest to the water. Tra- 

 vellers assure us that the male may be caught 

 with the hand during windy weather, as its 

 long tail renders escape by flight impossible. 



The COCK-TAILED WIDOW BIRDS 

 (Slcga?iara) are found throughout the whole of 

 Central Africa, and have been described as 

 two distinct species, resembling each other in 

 the shape of their beak, the height of which 

 equals its length ; the ridge is arched, and 

 joined at a sharp angle with the forehead. 

 When in nuptial plumage the tail of the male 

 seems to consist of only the middle feathers, 

 which are much longer than those at the sides, 

 and very various in their appearance; the 

 centre feathers are bent like those in the tail 

 of a Cock, and of great length and breadth, 

 narrowing somewhat towards the tips. 



THE PARADISE WIDOW BIRD. 

 The Paradise Widow Bird ( Vidua para- 

 discd) is black upon the head, back, and tail, 

 brilliant red upon the nape and lower parts of 

 the body. The plumage of the female is 

 brownish yellow upon the head, the bridles 

 and two lines upon the top of the head being 

 black, the breast rose colour, as are the bor- 

 ders of the black wings. The length of the 

 body is about five and three-quarter inches, the tail eleven and a quarter inches, its breadth nine and 

 a half inches, and the wing two inches. The female is somewhat smaller than her mate. 



The Paradise Widow Birds are found principally in the thinly-wooded forests of Africa, and 





w^ 



THE paradise widow BIRD (Vidua paradisea). 



