AFRICA, 361 
fiiall fpeak elfewhere. In fome fpecles, and 
thofe not few in number, the male alone regu^ 
larly changes his colour, and alFumes once in. 
a twelvemonth the plumage of the female; fo 
that at a certain period of the year all the birds 
of this fpecies appear to be females. I have in 
my poffeffion fpecimens of more than fifty o£ 
thefe changing fpecies, in all their tranfitions 
from one hue to another ; but the one in 
which it appears moft extraordinary is an 
African bunting, known by the name of veuve 
a epaulettes rouges'^, 1 he female of this 
beautiful bird has the fimple colours of the Ity- 
lark, and a fhort horizontal tail, like that of 
almoft all other birds : the male, on the con-- 
trary, is wholly black, except at the fhoulder 
of the wing, where there is a large red patch ; 
and his tail is long, ample, and vertical like 
that of the common cock. But this brilliant 
plumage and fine vertical tail fubfift only dur- 
ing the feafon of love, which continues fix 
months. This period over, he lays afide his 
fplemdid habiliments, and affumes the more 
* See BufFon's Planches Enluminees, No. 635. V. The 
orange-fhouldered bunting. Latham's Synopfis, vol. II. 
p. 184. T. 
modeft 
