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Culuiir Cliaiigcs oj llliydahs. 
The Colour-changes in Crimson-ringed and Jachson's 
Whydahs. 
By W. Shore Baily. 
The bi-annual changes of colour in the Whydahs and 
Weavers have always been to me extremely interesting. These 
changes are sometimes spoken of as seasonal ones, but at any 
rate in captivity our seasons seem to have little to do with it ; 
in fact, in some seasons the change does not take place at all. 
Nor does the lack of these so called nuptial plumes in any way 
interfere with their breeding operations, although I have no 
doubt that the males are more attractive to the hens when they 
have all their war-paint on. Very little seems to have been 
written as to the time these changes of plumage take, and, of 
course, it would be difficult to note this in their countries of 
origin; so, perhaps, these few notes on the two species I am at 
present keeping" may be of interest. 
Last season my Crimson-ringed ( Coliostruthus laticauda ) 
cock was out of colour on April 28th. On May 15th its long 
black tail was beginning to appear, and by the end of the month 
it was fully grown. On June 12th a black patch was showing 
on each thigh; on July 17th there was a black spot on throat and 
down centre of breast; on the 30th it was showing red on head 
and throat, and a week later it was in full-colour. During this 
time it had built two or three nests and regularly displayed to the 
three hens in the aviary with it. It will be observed that for over 
a month it wore a long black tail, with its plain brown uniform 
as shown in photo {vide plate). It remained in full plumage until 
the end of February in this year, when its face and head 
gradually became brown. By March 14th, brown patches were 
showing on the flanks, and the crimson on head and throat was 
getting pale. Three days later the crimson had entirely 
disappeared, and a large part of the body had changed to brown. 
On the 24th it shed its tail, which had not changed colour. A 
line down the centre of the breast, and a few feathers on back, 
