339 
Ploceidse of the Ethiopian Region. 
Loxigilla melas , Yerr. MS., fide Bp. loc. cit. 
Vidua ultramarina , Licht. Nomencl. 1854, p. 49. 
Hypochera cenea , Hartl. J. f. O. 1854, p. 115, Senegal 
(green gloss). 
Hypochera chalyheata , Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. 1871, p. 64. 
Hypochera nigerrima, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 133, An¬ 
gola (purple gloss). 
Hypochera purpurascens , Reichen. J. f. O. 1883, p. 221, 
Usagua, Lindi (purple gloss). 
Hah. The whole of Africa south from about 16° N. lat. 
a. February, h. April, Natal ( Shelley Mus.). 
15. Vidua. ^ 
Type. 
1800. Vidua , Cuv. Anat. Comp. Table Ois. . V. principalis . 
1850. Videstrelda , Lafresn. Rev. et Mag. 
Zool. 1850, p. 325 . V. regia . ' 
1850. Steganura, Reichb. Syst. Nat.pl, 76 . V. paradisea. 
1850. Tetrcenura , Reichb. tom. cit. pi. 78 . . V. regia . 
1882. Linura , Reichb. Ora. Centralbl. 1882, 
p. 91. V. fischeri. 
The genus Vidua appears to me to differ from Hypochera 
only in having the two or four central tail-feathers much 
elongated. If I divided the genus Vidua , I should require 
five genera for the reception of the six species. 
Vidua hypocherina and V. nitens, of which I have examined 
the types, are identical. 
V. principalis was divided by Dr. Hartlaub into two 
species, one with the chin white, and the other with it black ; 
but every intermediate form, from one black feather to twenty 
or more on the chin, I have met with. 
V. superciliosa is only known to me by the description 
and fine illustration given by Vieillot from a specimen in 
Temminck's collection. This species has, I believe, never 
since been met with. It is the only Vidua ever described 
with only two elongated tail-feathers, and these are white 
and apparently perfectly similar to those of a Flycatcher 
of the genus Tchitrea. The type is not in the Paris Museum, 
