190 BIRDS 



Most individuals are quiet and harmless, and may safely be 

 associated with smaller species. 



The Giant Whydah (Diatropura progne) is the largest 

 of the group. It is a superb bird, almost entirely black, 

 with an orange patch on the wings, the feathers of which 

 are edged with buiif. The tail feathers are narrow and 

 pointed, and reach a length of eighteen inches. The species 

 is very striking when in flight. Unfortunately, it is very 

 seldom obtainable. 



The Pin-tailed Whydah {Vidua serena) is much 

 smaller than either of the preceding. When in color, the 

 male is black above, with a collar around the neck and the 

 underparts white. The beak is bright red. The elongated 

 tail feathers, which usually are four in number, are straight 

 and narrow, often reaching a length of ten inches, giving 

 a curious appearance to the tiny bird. Most Pin-tails are 

 well disposed toward their cage-mates, but occasional indi- 

 viduals are met with which temperamentally are quite the 

 reverse. 



The CoMBASou (Hypochcera chalybeata) is commonly 

 included among the Grassfinches, but it seems best to treat 

 it among the Whydahs. It lacks the long tail of these 

 birds, but it has the eclipse plumage, which is not seen among 

 the Grassfinches. The male, in color, is black with bluish 

 iridescence, the bill being white and the legs pink. The 

 female is the usual brownish. Several closely allied species 

 are not distinguished by dealers. It is a quiet little bird, not 

 inclined to be quarrelsome, and usually is long-lived in 

 captivity. 



The typical Weavers, of which all of the common species 

 are confined to Africa, give second place to none in point 

 of beauty and hardiness. Song they cannot boast of and 

 their dispositions are not of the sweetest, but brilliant plum- 

 age they undeniably possess. As in the Whydah, the males 



