CRIMSON-COLLARED WHIDAH. 175 
there is likewise a material difference in the tail- 
feathers. 
The size is rather larger, hut its general structure 
precisely the same as the last : the hill, however, is 
more lengthened, and the feet, in proportion, much 
larger, the toes and claws being particularly long 
and slender ; the hinder toe is considerably longer 
than the lateral toes ; while the middle toe and 
claw exceeds the length of the tarsus, whereas in 
the last species they are of equal length. The hill 
is large, more lengthened in proportion than that 
of the last, and the upper mandible more bent to- 
wards its tip, so that the outer half of the commis- 
sure is distinctly arched beyond the sinus in its 
middle part. The tail is conspicuously forked, the 
outer feather being five inches longer than the 
middle ; the intermediate ones graduated at nearly 
equal distance. From the circumstance of the 
longer feathers being concave, we conjecture that 
the tail in the living bird is boat-shaped, or laterally 
compressed, something in the same manner as that 
of Vidua paradisea; yet as they are very flexible, 
we cannot decide on this point with any certainty. 
The entire plumage, both above and below, is 
deep and glossy black ; paler and inclining to brown 
on the wings, where the tertials have a pale fulvous 
external margin. The bright orange scarlet band- 
is situated across the upper part of the breast, or 
rather at the lower part of the throat. 
Total length, from the bill to the tip of the wings, 
4^5 inches ; tail beyond, 6 ; hill, from the gape, | ; 
