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T H E ST. HELENA WAXBILL.
EitrUda astrilda, LTNN.
^ ^ South-African species, ranging to the Matabele conntn- on the east, and to
Damara-Land on the west. Introduced into St. Helena, Mauritius,
Madagascar, &c.
This Waxbill nearly resembles E. cinerca, from which it chiefly differs in its
superior size (length inches), its deeper and greyer colouring above, the
greater development of rose-red on the abdomen, and its long tail:
Messrs. Sharpe and Layard give the following account of the habits of the
St. Helena Waxbill; or Red-beak, as the Boers call i t T h e s e little birds
congregate in prodigious flocks throughout the colony, frequenting the fields of
grain, ploughed lands, and vineyards. They are not nnfrequently found close to
habitations, and their little shrill piping notes ma3i' be heard even in towns.
" T h e "Roodebec" is found in all parts of the colonj^ and extends into
Natal. Mr. F. R. Barratt states :—" I recognized this little bird nearly all over
the countr}-, Orange Free State, Diamond Fields, Pretoria, Lydenberg Gold Fields ;
and I have seen it in the Kaffir gardens a few miles further north. I also met
wdth it at Rustenberg. They congregate in large flocks, and are said by the
Boers and farmers to do considerable damage to grain crops."
" Mr. Frank Oates procured it in the Matabele country, where it was also
observed by Mr. Aj-res during Mr. Jameson's recent expedition. Mr. Anderson
observes:—
" This pretty little species is common in the southern districts of Damara
Land, and in some parts of Great Namaqua Land, as well as at Lake N'gami.
I t lives in flocks, and is generally found upon the ground, where it seeks its
food, which consists of seeds, insects, etc."
" Mr. Monteiro found the bird ver}' abundant in Angola, particularly to the
south, where it is gregarious, and seen in flocks of hundreds of individuals."
We extract the following note of the author from the first edition of the
llu St. Helena JVaxbiU. 143
work :—They breed in communities, and it is said that several inhabit the same
nest, la3'ing and sitting in it promiscuously and sometimes three or four together.
The nest is a large structure, composed of straw, grasses, feathers, wool, paper,
rags, etc. It is often as large as a stable bucket, round, and with an entrance in
the side. The interior is a mass of feathers ; and the eggs, from eight to fourteen
in number, are pure white, oval and about 7"' long, by 4'" broad.
" These birds live well in confinement, and add much to the appearance of
an aviar}-, by their sprightliness, and beauty of their plumage when many are
together. It is no uncommon thing to see a dozen or more on one perch, sitting
close up to each other for companj^'s sake. I have four which have separated
themselves into two pairs, though agreeing all well together. The birds of each
pair are always together, cleaning and caressing each other. When I put in the
bathing vessels, they all crowd into them in defiance of all the bigger and
stronger birds; and it is no unusual thing to see two canaries, or one canary,
the "King of the roodebecs," and three or four "roodebecs," all in one vessel at
once, splashing, ducking, and jostling one another in narrow bounds, to which
their cage restricts them."
" M r . Atmore writes, December 12th, 1887;—"You know what a funny
wisp of a nest it makes and how carefully concealed; but how such small birds
carry such large bents of grass is a puzzle. The inside is very warm and
comfortable, and what may be called the frame-work of the nest is very nieel}'
contrived, so that all the ear-ends of the grasses are woven together to form the
pipe where the entrance is. The 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 cannot say, but onl}' one flew out), they were in all
stages of incubation.—two not set, and four or five had 3'oung birds, so large I
could not blow them." This species of Finch, observes Mr. Aj'res " is bj' far
the most common in Natal ; during the winter mouths immense flights of them
may be seen. The3- are fond of frequenting cultivated ground, especially that on
which weeds have been allowed to grow and seed, where the3' find abundance of
food."
Dr. Russ calls this the "Little Helena-pheasant." He says:—"A not only
exceptionally charming and soft feathered, but also in its disposition an infinite^
loveable little bird. Always lively, smooth, spruce, and cleanly in its feathers,
never stupidly shy, but if even nervous, nevertheless confiding and soon tame ;
it gains the affection of all amateurs and especially of ladies in high society. It
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