200 
GLOSSY BLACK BENGALY. 
Another circumstance has also conspired to involve 
this particular species in error. There actually 
exists in Brazil a small finch of the same size and 
of the same glossy blackness, hut without the pale 
hill and feet of Amadina miens. The little atten- 
tion that even our modern ornithologists have yet 
bestowed upon this family, has led them to think 
these two black finches were mere varieties. The 
American bird, however, is a Tiaris*, and has no 
spurious quill-feathers. The African species, on 
the contrary, possesses this character so peculiar to 
the family of weavers. 
Having now cleared the scientific history of this 
little Bengaly from the errors of compilers, it is 
only necessary to add a few words on its peculiari- 
ties. It is the longest winged species we yet know 
of ; this, with its glossy plumage, sufficiently shows 
its analogy to the swallows, or the tribe which 
Amadina represents in the circle of the Plociance. 
The hind-toe and its claw are manifestly shorter 
than the tarsus ; which character, -with its even tail, 
renders it a perfect example of the sub-genus Ama- 
dina. The spurious quill is very minute, and the 
white spot on the flanks is only seen on raising the 
feathers. The quills and tail are dull black. 
Total length, 4 T 2 g ; hill small, T 3 5 ; wings, 2| ; 
tail beyond, A ; from the base, l T 8 g ; tarsus, T 8 g . 
* Tiaris nitens, Swains. (FringiUa splendens, Vieill. Ency. 
Math. 981.) 
