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WHIDAH FINCH.

Tus is the proper name of this bird, which is frequently
corrupted into the name of widow finch, or widow bird.
The name of whidah bird is believed to have been
given to it by the Portuguese, as derived from the king-
dom of Whidah, which is situated towards the central
part of the western coast of Africa; it is also found
in various parts of that continent, from Senegal to Angola.
“It is related nearly to the linnets, with the exception
of the peculiar structure of its tail, having two or more
of the intermediate quill feathers in the male birds
lengthened in an extraordinary degree. The tail itself
consists of twelve feathers, of which the elongated ones
are vertical; two being flowing and pendent, and two,
the middle ones, broad, with the shaft projecting like
a slender filament beyond the end. Size, that of a sparrow.
It has much the manners of the linnet, and is lively
and active in captivity, which it endures without much
appearance of constraint, jumping from perch to perch,
and alternately raising and depressing its long tail with
great vivacity. It is fed upon grain, with the occasional
addition of green herbs; and is fond of bathing in the
water which may happen to be placed in its cage.

Twice a year it is subject to a change of plumage, the
long feathers, the peculiar attribute of the male, falling
off in autumn, and returning in spring, when he recovers
with his new dress, his sharp, but agreeable and varied
note. His summer dress is, on the upper part, black,
except the back of the neck, which is half-surrounded
with a broad lightish chestnut band; the breast is reddish