WHYDAH-BIRD— JAVA SPARROW 221 



the White-eyed Towhee, a more southern species, it 

 is yellowish-white. 



The Snowbird, or Junco, breeds in the northern 

 parts of both continents, and flocks of them are seen 

 migrating southward as the cold weather comes on. 

 The male is slate-grey above, darkening on the head, 

 and white below, and the female resembles him, but 

 is somewhat browner above. 



Often seen in company with the preceding species, 

 the Snowflake, or Snow Bunting, is sometimes con- 

 fused with it. This bird, however, is pure white 

 above, with black markings on wings and tail, and the 

 bill is black, while in the Snowbird it is white. After 

 the breeding season, the white of the upper parts 

 becomes washed with brown. These little birds are 

 not at all shy, and are frequently seen in winter seek- 

 ing food in the neighbourhood of human dwellings. 

 See Plate 16, Fig. 89. 



The Paradise Whydah-bird is a South African spe- 

 cies, found on swampy ground where reeds and long 

 grasses flourish. Kaffir children capture numbers of 

 the males with limed twigs and strings, and also by 

 running them down, the birds being hampered with 

 their long tails. During the season of courtship these 

 birds perform wonderful evolutions in the air. On 

 account of its beautiful plumage, as well as for its 

 song, the Whydah-bird is frequently kept in confine- 

 ment in European countries. See Plate 17, Fig. 95. 



Both the Amaduvade and Paradise Whydah-bird 

 belong to a group of birds found in Africa and parts 

 of Australia called Weaver-birds, from the remark- 

 able nests which they weave of roots and grasses. By 



