[ 8 ] 
RED-BREASTED LONG-TAILED FINCH. 
EMBERIZ A P ARADISiEA. Lin. Sjst. i. p. 3 12. 19. 
La Veuve. Liris. Orn. iii. p. 20. 
La Veuve a' collier d or. Luf , Ois. iv. p . 15 5. 
Whidah Bunting. Lath. ii. p. 1. 17 8. 
The Count de Buffon treats of eight species of this family, which are ge- 
nerally known by the name of Widow, being a corruption of the word 
Whidah, a kingdom of Africa, on the Coast of Guinea, where they are 
common, as well as at Angola, and have likewise been received from Mo- 
zambique, a small island lying on the eastern coast of the same continent. 
They are not confined to Africa only, for they are met with in Asia, and 
in the Philippine Islands, in the Indian seas. 
The subject of this Plate is represented in its summer garb, at which 
season it acquires the addition of four feathers, which spring from the rump; 
the two outermost are nearly thirteen inches in length, broad in the middle, 
narrow at the end; about the middle of these feathers arises a long thread; 
the two middle feathers are four inches long, very broad, and terminate by 
a thread; those feathers are marked with undulated transverse bars, and are 
of a glossy black. 
This bird moults twice a year; its first moult is in the spring, at which 
time it begins to assume its summer dress, but it is not until June that it has 
recovered its perfect plumage : its second moulting takes place about the 
beginning of November, it then loses the four feathers above the tail, and 
the mourning garb of the widow, and by degrees its plumage becomes a 
mixture of black, brown, tawny, and white, very much resembling the 
Brambling. The circle of the eye, the bill, and legs experience no variation. 
They are very lively sprightly birds, and have an agreeable note, which 
is supposed to have induced Edwards to class them with the Finches. 
