frame-work of the nest is very nicely contrived so that all the ear-
ends of the grasses are woven together to form the pipe where the
entrance is. This nest was in a thicket of brambles and fern about
six inches from the ground. Even after the bird flew out, it
required a good search before I could find it. There were twelve
eggs in it (whether more than one lays in a nest I can’t say, but only
one flew out), they were in all stages of incubation—two not set,
and four or five had the young birds so large I could not blow
them.” This species of Finch, observes Mr. Ayres, “ is by far the
most common in Natal; during the winter months immense flights
of them may be seen. They are fond of frequenting cultivated
ground, especially that on which weeds have been allowed to grow
and seed, where they find abundance of food. I have seen them
occasionally take the young queens of the white ant, rising in the
air and taking them on the wing; but they appear to have much
difficulty in catching them, possibly from the smallness of their
mouth. They build close to the ground, amongst thick and tall
grass. I found several nests of these birds all built upon the
ground, generally in some convenient indentation sheltered by a
clump of grass. The little elongated entrance of the nest is placed
rather forwards, with the end of it touching the ground. On the
top of the nest there is a sort of chamber, in which, the Caffres
assure me, the male bird roosts at night during the incubation of
the female.”
Upper parts brown, minutely waved with darker brown lines;
under parts, lighter brown, also waved with brown lines ; over the
whole of these parts, in certain lights, there is spread a lovely rose
colour, changing into purple; bill, stripe through the eye, and down
the centre of the breast, and stomach brilliant scarlet; vent intense
black; tail graduated, brown; legs black. Length, 4" 9 '" ; wing,
2” ; tail, 2" 2"'.
According to Mr. Andersson the iris is brown, the bill bright red,
the legs and feet liver-brown.
4 6 3 . E s t r e l d a n i t id u l a , Hartl. White-dotted Waxbill.
Discovered by Mr. Ayres in Natal, where he says it is very rare,
and he knows nothing of its habits.
General colour olive green; rump and upper tail-coverts yellowish
green; an orange mark in front of the eye; body spotted with
white dots, surrounded with black. Length, 3" 2" '; wing, 1" 9 ;
tail, 1" 2"'.
464. E strelda erythronota (Vieill). Black-cheeked Waxbill.
Found by Sir Andrew Smith inhabiting the country to the north
and east of Kurrichane. Mr. Ayres has only found the species
on the Limpopo, in companies among the low scrub which abounds
there in some parts. Mr. Oates procured it at Tati. Mr. Andersson
wr i t e s T h i s species is generally distributed over Damara and
Great Namaqua Land, and is also found at Lake N’garni. It
resembles its congeners in manners and habits.”
Top of head, neck, and interscapulars tinted with crimson; back,
rump, and upper tail-coverts crimson; hinder part of breast and
belly dull crimson; sides of head, chin, under tail-coverts, and tail
black; quills ashy brown; wing-coverts and scapulars grey, closely
banded with brown. Length, 4" 6” '.
The iris is bright wine-coloured red ; the legs and toes black,
as is also the'bill, except near the base, where it is whitish-blue”
(Andersson).
Fig. Yieill. Ois. Chant, pi. 14.
465. - U rm u n t h u s cyanogaster (Baud.). Blue-breasted Waxbill.
Estrelda benghala, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 199.
We consider that the southern bird is distinct from U. phcenicotis,
Swainson, inasmuch as we have never seen the male with the conspicuous
red spot on the ears which is always seen in the species
from Western and North-eastern Africa.
The present species was procured by Sir Andrew Smith between
Kurrichane and the tropic of Capricorn. Mr. F. A. Barratt shot
it near Rustenberg, and Mr. Ayres has procured it from the Limpopo;
he likewise found it in some numbers among the bush on the banks
of the Tugela in Natal. Mr. Buckley met with it in the Transvaal
and the Matabele country; and the late Mr. Frank Oates collected
several specimens at Tati. Further north it appears to be common,
for Mr. Ayres says that during Mr. Jameson’s expedition they
found it one of the most plentiful of the small Finches, and very
widely distributed. Mr. Andersson has the following note “ This