Colour Changes of II' hydalis. 
were llie only spots of black now noticeable, and a few days 
later it was entirely out of colour. Almost innuediately a new 
black tail bet;an to ,L;row, and by tbe lotli of April it was fully 
s^'rown. For nearly three months now it has sported this 
apjiendai^e, without any other black feathers about its body, 
which seems to me a rather curious occurrence. 
Last season my Jackson VVhydah ( Drcplaiioplcclcs 
jacksoiii) commenced showing" colour in the middle of June. 
On the -'3rd its tail was growing, and on the 29th it was in 
half-colour, and one of its hens was already sitting". By the 7th 
of Inly it was in full colour, and shortly afterwards the second 
hen was sitting. This spring" it conunenced going out of colour 
on March ist, shedding" its tail on that day; on the 4th brown 
feathers were showing" on the head and wings. On the 13th 
there was a large patch of brown down the centre of its breast ; 
on the i8th half its body was brown, and on the J6th there were 
a few black feathers left on the shoulders only. This change of 
colour was effected largely by moulting", although an 
examination of the moulted feathers showed that most of them 
had begun to turn colour. 
In the case of the Crimson-ringed Whydah fewer 
feathers were shed and the change of colour was caused by the 
loss of pigment. At the beginning" of this month (June), the 
Jackson had already constructed a playirig ground, and was 
busy dancing", it then being in comi)lete eclipse plumage. On 
the 5th its tail was beginning to grow, and by the 14th it w"as in 
half-colour. At the time of writing", June 24th, it is practically 
in full-colour. 
Young" Whydahs apparently come into colour in their 
second year. Two hybrids bred here have done so. 
Unfortunately my young" Jackson's cock died last winter, before 
attaining" his breeding-dress. When a year old he built himself a 
playing" ground, and regularly danced to the hens, looking" very 
funny in his plaiii brown feathers and short tail. Strange to say. 
he proved to be the master over the old male, and gave him very 
little peace. 
