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THE CRIMSON-CROWNED WEAVER.
Pyromelana flaimiiiceps, SwAlNS.
1+
^ ^ N inhabitant of North-Eastern and Western Africa, its range extends from
Sonthern Senaar to the Zanzibar district, and from the Quanza River to
Senegal.
P r e v a i l i n g colour of the male in breeding-plumage fier}- orange-red, the
scapulars and centre of back glossy orange-brown, a narrow frontal band, an
elongated patch from the beak to the back of the face (enclosing the eye), the
chin, front of throat, chest, and front of abdomen, velvety black ; the wing and
tail feathers black edged with white and pale buff; thighs, vent and iinder tailcoverts
brownish orange. Length inches. Beak black, legs dull flesh-coloured;
iris brown.
The female above and on the cheeks ruddy brown, streaked and spotted with
black; wing and tail-feathers dark brown, narrowlj^ edged with pale reddishbrown
; a broad j^ellowish eyebrow-streak; chin, throat, abdomen and tinder tailcoverts
almost pure white ; breast diffused yellowish-brown, with narrow
longitudinal black streaks; Length 4J inches. Beak pale dull flesh-coloured, legs
pinkish ; iris pale brown.
The winter plumage of the male nearly resembles the normal coloration of
the female. The breeding-plumage is assumed by a gradual and complete moult.
Young birds are like the female, but paler.
Von Heuglin seems to be the first Naturalist who recorded the nesting-habits
of this lovely Weaver; he says:—"I found this magnificent Fire-Finch breeding
in almost solitary couples in August and September in the high grass and
thickets in the territory of the Djur and the Kosanga rivers. The nests are
built like those of E. ignicolor, and contain three verdigris-green eggs, 8| mill,
in length, which are usually sprinkled at the blnnt end with extremely small
violet-black spots. They disappear from the above-mentioned regions when the
breeding-season is over. This species seems to be found in Abyssinia also, only
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