Of large size, and entirely black; the lesser wing-coverts bright
orange-yellow, the median series pale fawn-brown, the greater series
black margined with fulvous; the under wing-coverts partly fawn-
yellow, partly black; tail long and graduated ; bill leaden, with the
cutting edges whitish; iris dusky. Total length, 10-6 inches;
bill, 0'75; wing, 4'35; tail, 6'3; tarsus, T05.
452. P yr om e la n a ORYX (Linn.) Ked Bishop Bird.
Ploceus oryx, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 185.
The “ Bed Caffre Fink,” though not an uncommon bird, is certainly
a very local one; that is, though distributed over the whole
colony, it seems to be confined to narrow limits. About Cape Town,
I only know of one place where it is to be found, and that is the
swampy ground near the Royal Observatory. It breeds in September
among the reeds growing in the river, supporting its nest on three
or four stems, like its congener, P. capensis. In the winter time it
congregates in flocks, and does much damage to the grain fields in
the neighbourhood of its nesting-place, but never strays away from
that locality. Nest like that of P. capensis. Eggs four or five ■
pure light blue; axis, 10” ' ; diam., 7'". Builds in thousands
about the swamps and river running out of Zoetendals Vley, also in
the Boschjeveldt between Swellendam and Robertson (W. Atmore),
but is not found about Grahamstown, according to Dr. Atherstone.
Captain Trevelyan informs us that it is tolerably numerous at Peel-
town, about six miles from Kingwilliamstown, but is very local; and
we received it from Mr. T. C. Atmore at Eland’s Post. Mr. Ayres
has found it in Natal, where he only saw it on the reedy banks of
rivers near the coast, while Mr. Woodward observes that in that colony
he found it only in the up-country districts, where it assembles in
small flocks, suspending its nest, which is found of grass of a very
fine texture, from the flags along the river. Mr. T. E. Buckley met
with it in the Drakensberg, and also in the Transvaal, where
Mr. Ayres has also found them breeding in large companies in many
reedy vleys and pools, and also in great abundance in the swamps;
they assemble in immense flocks both in winter and summer, but
during the latter season the flocks appear to consist almost entirely
of males in their gaudy red and black plumage. Mr. F. A. Barratt
observes :—“ The ‘ Red Caffre Fink ’ breeds in reeds near gardens,
and is plentiful about Bloemfontein, in the Free State, thence to the
Yaal River, Kronstadt, near Rustenberg, Pretoria, and Potchefstroom.
It is a very local bird; and I found it in only a few places along the
Vaal near the diamond-fields; but I did not observe it flying everywhere,
like Ghera progne.” Mr. Frank Oates obtained a specimen
at Hope Fountain, near Gubuleweyo, about the beginning of
December, 1873, and- Dr. Kirk found it on the Zambesi. Mr.
Andersson found the species abundant at Lake N garni and in
Ondonga, and though rarer in Damara and Great Namaqua Land, it
occurs in those countries also; it likewise extends into Benguela
(Anchieta).
A suia.11 race ®f the present species known to naturalists as
Pyromelana sundevalU occurs in many parts of South Africa, sometimes
by itself in distinct localities, and sometimes mingling with
the larger race. We have not thought it necessary to separate these
two Bishop Birds specifically.
Male.—In breeding plumage: upper parts brilliant scarlet; lower
parts, with the exception of throat and vent, which are scarlet, deep
velvety black; forehead, cheeks, and chin black; wings and tail
brown. Length, 5"; wing, 2” 9'” ; ta il,l" 10'". Female and male
in non-breeding plumage, brown, the centre of each feather with a
dark stripe. Mr. T. E. Buckley says that the bill is black, the legs
light brown, and the iris hazel.
Fig. Shaw’s Nat. Misc. pi. 240.
453. P y r om e la n a c a p e n s is , Linn. Black and Yellow Bishop Bird.
Ploceus capensis, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 184.
As in the case of P. oryx there is both a large and a small race of
the present bird found in South Africa, and the latter is generally
known as P. xanthomcelas (Rupp.), but as they both occur in various
parts of South Africa, and have not a distinctive range, we can
only consider them as races of the same species. It is a very
common bird throughout the colony, affecting indiscriminately the
solitary vley (morass) in the midst of the veldt (open, uncultivated
country), or the homestead of the farmer. During the breeding
season it is seen about reeds, among which it breeds, placing its
nest with great art, so as to include in its structure three or four
of the firmest and most upright stems, which support it like
pillars. The male generally perches on the topmost twigs of the
bushes mingled with the reeds, or on the heads of the reeds them