304 Capt. Brown’s Accouut of the Whidah Bird. 
At this date (5th January 1829,) the shorter tail feathers have 
all been replaced by four new ones, at present of a dark ash-colour; 
these have a peculiar twist, but will eventually become lateral; the 
bill has made considerable progress in its exfoliation. 
The female Whidah Bunting, when young, has much the ap- 
pearance of the male bird in its winter dress, but considerably deep- 
er in the tone of its plumage, which annually becomes darker till it 
arrives at its mature age, which is said to be four years. Like 
the male, it also undergoes considerable change in its summer and 
winter moults ; in the latter state being of a dark rusty brown, 
with patches of black on the head, neck, and back ; and, in its 
summer garb, is of deep blackish-brown, without any patches of 
black, but considerably lighter on the belly. It is always desti- 
tute of the long tail feathers, like the male. 
This remarkable species is a native of Africa, and is said to be 
common at Mongolia, Angola, and the neighbourhood of Fort 
Whidah, in which last locality it abounds, and in consequence has 
derived its name. It has no song, but utters a sharp and clear 
chirp, not unlike that of the common bunting of Great Britain be- 
fore rain. It is a lively and active bird, seldom resting above a 
few seconds in one place or position during the day. 
The French have given it the name of La Veuve, or Widow 
Bird, which appellation it commonly bears in England, and has 
been applied, on account of the black garb which it assumes in 
summer. But as Edwards justly observes, it is more likely to 
have been derived from a corruption of the word Whidah. 
This bird has been fed on canary seed and oats since its arrival 
in Scotland, on which it has thriven remarkably well ; it is fond of 
bread, pears, and lettuce. 
_ Instances have been known of this bird living to a great age in 
_ England when taken care of. 
In the Edinburgh College Museum there are four specimens 
marked the “ Whidah Bunting.” One is the male in its winter garb, 
with the long tail feathers attached to it,—an utter impossibility. 
A second is the male in its summer attire ; but the position of the 
long tail feathers are completely inconsistent with the character of 
‘the bird, being stuck in like those of the common domestic ceck, 
whereas they are always pendulous. A third appears to me to be 
the Variegated Bunting, ( Mivberiza principalis,) and the fourth, 
the Panayan Bunting, ( Emberiza panayensis, ) both of which are 
considerably smaller than the Whidah Bird. But I cannot speak 
with certainty on these two last, having only examined them through 
the glass. However, if they were the Whidah Bird, the same ob- 
servation would apply to the former species as I have made on 
the Whidah Bunting in its winter plumage. 
- Plate X.* exhibits the bird in the intermediate change betwixt 
the summer and winter moult, in which condition it has the appear- 
‘ance of being a distinct bird from the other two figures. 
* This Plate will accompany the next Number. Ep. 
