184 
SHORT-TAILED CRIMSON WEAVER. 
Eupledes ignicolor, Swains. 
Vermilion; fore part of the head, ears and body beneath 
velvet black ; wings light brown ; tail very short, almost 
concealed by the lengthened covers. 
Fringilla ignicolor, Vieill. Ois. Chant., PI. 59. 
A more splendid little bird than this, having but 
two rich colours on its plumage, cannot be conceived. 
The red is of the clearest and brightest vermilion, 
while the texture of the feathers, and their intense 
black, makes them to imitate the richest velvet. 
M. Vieillot, in whose costly work above cited there 
is an accurate although not elegant figure, describes 
it as a new species inhabiting Senegal ; and as a 
fine specimen is in our museum, we here introduce 
it in our volume, although it was not received 
through the same channel as the majority of the 
species here described. We of course adopt the 
original specific name, a plan we always pursue, 
except when there exists a decided objection. M. 
Vieillot mentions tliat, although a native of the 
tropics, it bears the temperature of the French cli- 
mate very well. We can feel no surprise at this, 
after the fact mentioned at page 162 ; our only as- 
tonishment is, that so few of these beautiful African 
