480. C r ithagra angolensis (Ghnel.) Black-throated Seed-eater.
Sir Andrew Smith states that this species was found by him
about and beyond Kurrichaine, and it was procured by Mr. Prank
Oates at the first Makalaka Kraal, on the Zambesi road, in August.
We have also seen specimens from Damara Land. Mr. Andersson
writes: “ I have met with this species both in Damara Land and
further northward; it congregates in large flocks, and often associates
with G. chrysopyga.” It has been also found further to the northward
on the West Coast, having been procured by Dr. Palkenstein
in Chinchonxo in the Congo district.
Above grey-brown, the centre of the feathers dark brown; rump
sulphur-yellow; chin and throat black; breast, belly, and vent,
rusty white; wings brown, the tips of the quills and the inner edges
of inner vanes, towards bases, white; the outer edges golden-green;
tail slightly forked, dark brown, with the tips, and more or less of
the inner vanes, white. Length, 4 j" .
Fig. Edwards, Birds, pi. 129.
481. C r ith a gra ictera (Vieill.) Golden-rumped Seed-eater.
Crithagra chrysopyga, Swains.: Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 219.
Mr. Ortlepp has sent us specimens of this bird in breeding
plumage from Colesberg; he says that it sings sweetly. Mr. T. C.
Atmore likewise procured it near Eland’s Post and Grahamstown.
Mr. Ayres, writing from the Transvaal, states that he met with
a small company of five individuals amongst the low thorns in the
Mariqua district. Mr. Prank Oates procured a specimen at Tati,
and Mr. Jameson occasionally met with it in small flocks during his
expedition to the Mashoona, country. Mr. Andersson writes:—
“ This species is common in the neighbourhood of the Okavango,
and is also found in Damara Land, extending to the south of that
country. On January 5th, 1867, I found a nest of this Finch at
Omapju; it was situated in a kamel-thorn bush, about four feet
above the ground, and was composed of grass, lined with softer
grass internally; it contained three eggs much incubated.” Senor
Anchieta has it from Biballa and Caconda: it is called Eabilo at the
latter place and Kianja at the former.
Upper plumage, including the crown, ears, wings, and tail, olive-
grey, with a dark stripe down each feather; a broad stripe of bright
yellow is above each eye, meeting on the front; another below the
ear; upper tail-coverts, and the whole of the under plumage, from
chiu to vent, also yellow. Length, 4"; wing, 2ff 4'"; tail, 1 5
According to Mr. Andersson, the iris is brown, the upper mandible
flesh-coloured, the lower mandible and also the legs and toes of a
dirty flesh colour.
Fig. Swains. B. of W. Afr. i, pi. 17.
492. C r ith a gra e lav iv en tr is {Shaw). Yellow-bellied Seed-eater.
Shaw, the original describer of this species, states that it came
from the Cape of Good Hope. We know nothing of the species
ourselves, but Professor Barboza du Bocage records a specimen
from Huilla, at which place Senor Anchieta met with it. The
following is the description given by Professor Bocage:—
Adult male.—Upper parts olive-yellow, of a purer tint on the
rump, marked on the head and on the back with a brown streak
in the middle of each feather; forehead, cheeks, superciliary streaks,
and under surface of body jonquil-yellow, the breast shaded with
olive; lores, .ear-coverts and a streak forming a moustache, olive;
wing-coverts dark brown, l^oadly bordered with greenish yellow;
quills and tail-feathers blackish, bordered externally- with yellow;
bill pale, the upper mandible reddish brown, rather darker; feet
reddish brown; iris brown. Total length, 5‘25 inches; bill, 0 '4 ;
wing, 3-05; tail, 2'25; tarsus, 0'7.
482. C rithagra albogularis (Smith). White-throated Seed-eater.
Crithagra selbyi, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 219.
This species is called by the colonists ff Dic-bec Saysie” and
“ Berg Saysie ” ; it is very abundant about Saldana Bay, Colesberg,
and the Berg River. In the latter place we found them breeding
in September, constructing a nest like that of C. sulfurata, and
in similar situations. The eggs were similar, but seemed to be
a little more pointed. Like all their congeners, they have a very
sweet song. We are informed by Mr. Rickard that he procured
several specimens near Port Elizabeth, but it does not seem to
extend out of the colony, though it has been said by Dr. Hartlaub
to have occurred in Mr. Monteiro’s Benguela collection. Prof.
Bocage, however, seems to doubt the correctness of the identification,
as he has not given it a place in his work on the birds
of Angola.