425 
* 
ART. V. Additional Observations on the Whidah Bunting. By 
: Capt. Tuomas Brown.—( Continued from p. 334.) 
if PLATE X. 
For the better elucidation of the varied and remarkable changes 
of this bird, I have considered it necessary to give four figures, in 
place of three as originally intended. 
The lower figure represents the bird in an attitude which it not 
unfrequently assumes when on the ground, and was taken on the 
14th September 1829. It will be observed, at that period the long 
tail feathers had not yet made their appearance, and the short tail, 
23 inches long, with which it is represented, seems only to be sup- 
plied to the animal as an interim one, to assist it in its flight, and 
may be termed the interim tail ; for these feathers drop off about 
the 16th October, when the long tail feathers have grown to about 
six Inches in length. ‘The double row of ash-coloured feathers on 
the head had not then begun to appear. The bill was also more 
naked of feathers at its base, than when the bird is in its full plu- 
mage. 
The upper figure shews the bird in an intermediate stage between 
the summer and winter plumage. 
On the 10th of January the deep-burnt terra-sienna colour on 
the jugulum, had changed very little in form, but was of an ochre 
yellow. The head, nape, and throat, were mottled, alternating 
with black and ash-coloured feathers. On the 15th, the jugulum 
had softened down to a very pale cream yellow: the feathers, how- 
ever, had not changed, but the colour had left them by absorption. 
The transition of the colour of the back part of the neck or auche- 
nium, had undergone a much less perceptible diminution of shade: 
the bill had altered materially both in shape and colour. 
The upper figure was drawn on the 19th January, at which date 
all the jugulum and ventral feathers had fallen off ; the former be- 
ing replaced by pale wood-brown feathers, and the latter by those 
of a yellowish white. The upper mandible had a considerable notch 
on its mesorrinium, or ridge. Goth mandibles were thickly covered 
with a white mealy substance, like those of parrots. ‘The auche- 
nium had not yet lost its deep tone. 
On the 10th February the large lower remiges, which are to be 
seen overhanging the tops of the primary wing feathers, in the up- 
per figure of Plate X. fell off. 
On the 11th the bird had nearly arrived at its pale cinereous 
state. The general tone, however, was less clear than last year at 
the same date, and the small black patch on the crissum, which is 
to be seen in Plate VIII. and the upper figure of Plate X. had 
quite disappeared. The epigastrium, venter, and crissum, were 
then of the must immaculate whiteness, more so than they have 
been at any former period: the higher ridge of the upper mandible 
had become much flattened. 
VOL. I. 3H 
