YELLOW-BODIED WEAVER. 171 
to the structure of our present subject ; distin- 
guished, nevertheless, from all others by having the 
spurious quill half as long as the second, which, with 
the third, is graduated ; so that the fourth and fifth 
quills are longest ; the bill, moreover, is consider- 
ably compressed and its commissure in no wise 
sinuated; lastly, the inner toe is shorter than the 
outer one. These characters are all of a positive 
nature, and with the above considerations, leads to 
the belief that this is the aberrant type of the circle 
of the Weavers. 
The yellow-bodied Weaver is as long, though not 
so thick as our Hawfinch. A full dark brown spreads 
over all the upper plumage, including the wings, 
tail, sides of the head, ears, and neck ; the chin is 
dirty white, tinged with pale yellow, and mottled 
with brown ; from this to the under tail-covers, the 
colour is a rich and full yellow, like that of the 
Orioles , rather deeper on the breast, and somewhat 
paler at the vent : the extreme edges of the quills 
are whitish. 
The true relations of this rare bird perplexed us 
for near twelve years. We then had a specimen 
sent from Southern Africa, and now another has 
come from Senegal. Future discoveries frill no 
doubt establish its union with the sub-genus Es- 
trelda , between which at present we know of no 
positive link. The bill and feet are pale. . 
Total length, 6 j ; bill from the gape, ; wings, 
; tarsus, T s „ ; hind-toe and claw, T 7 S ; tail, be- 
yond the wings, l x 7 0 ; from the base, 2-1. 
