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during the raiiij' season, in the neighbourhood of Adwa, and in the lowlands of
the Takazze."
Mr. Lewis Fraser describes it as :—" Common abont Cape Coast, West
Africa, freqnenting- the Indian-corn plantations."
Or. Gordon speaks of them as:—"Very familiar, and hop from bi'anch to
branch within a few j-ards of the person who visits their retreats."
Mr. Monteiro saj's that on the Onanza it was \'ery common; "keeping
alwaj's among the high grass."
Captain Speke, remarking upon it in Central East Africa says:—"Flies
about in large flocks, feeding in corn-fields, and roosting at night in the rushes
in the swamps."
Dr. E. Bohn observes:—" Common on the coast of Zanzibar, and near
Kakoma, not, however, in particularly large numbers. They prefer to live in
patches of very tall grass on fallow ground or (not only at night) on marshes.
Killed here in its transition plumage in the first half of February. I found and
received nests of three to five eggs from the beginning of April (on April iith
featlierless nestlings), until now, the second half of May. I saw several nests,
some with young birds, quite close together in verjr tall thick grass."
" As long as the Fire-Finches wear their ordinary brown plumage, they fly
about in such close company with Ploceus sanguinirostris that a shot sent into the
closely fl3'ing swarm regularly brings do%\Ti a number of specimens of both kinds
(Mdaburu in Ugogo). At eventide these flocks settle among the reeds of almost
dried-up swamps to drink and sleep. From every direction, first singly, then in
ever-increasing numbers, the flocks come with a particularly rapid and loudly
whirring flight, wheeling aroirnd closely packed together, with precipitate movements
like a flock of grey plover, to and fro, then sinking do^vn noiselessly into
neighbouring bushes, where they begin their confused noise, which rather increases
than decreases. Hence they fling themselves among the reeds, then back into
the bushes, and soon increase so much in force that their ascent resembles
distant thunder in quite a deceptive way. The masses thus gradually advance
to the border of open lakes, and then throw themselves on to the water from
suitable spots where the chimps of reeds are bent downwards in the form of a
terrace owing to their constantly being used for this purpose; here they fly up
and down for a long period, forming an unbroken stream. If one hid oneself in
one of the thick bushes into which the birds were accustomed to fly, one felt a
considerable compression of the air when the flocks flew towards and into it like
a living wall; and if one goes through the reeds when it is dark, black, noisy
The Crimson- Crowned Weaver. 303
waves, formed by the birds disturbed from their sleep, seemed to roll over the
marsh. The rapid, restless, shy and fugitive behaviour of the Fire-Finches at
this time contrasts wonderfulty with their composed, self-complacent manner when
they are accustomed to sun themselves and strut on the tops of stalks, twittering
and shaking their wings with bristling plumage in their garb of the mating
season."
Dr. Russ remarks:—" The Bird-shops onl}- occasionally receive the Flame-
Finch, which Fanciers and Dealers are usually unable to distinguish with certainty
from the Orange-bird. When carefully examined it is seen to be altogether
slightty larger, more slim, and the glowing colours red and. black are differently
distributed. In the Bird-room the Flame-Finch is somewhat quieter, not quite so
boisterous, but otherwise agreeing in ever}- detail with the other Fire-Weavers."
" Zealous fanciers may depend upon this, that the male and female of this
species, as well in ornamental as in grey plumage, may be with certainty distinguished
from the former, by the black colouring of the under surface of the
wings.
This Weaver also I have several times lodged in my Bird-room in the course
of jrears. Its nest differs from that of its relatives, in that it is somewhat larger
and apparentl}' woven by preference of grass-stalks and leaves of reeds. The
laying every time consisted of five eggs and the development of the brood is normal.
Among the dealers this species is only too frequently- overlooked; thus Mr.
W. Mieth, of Berlin, possessed several pairs for years, which nobody but myself
was willing to purchase, until at last he was obliged to give them away at the
price of the common Orange-Weaver."
As regards the change of color taking place by a complete moult, as
stated at the head of this account on the authority of travellers, I have my
doubts : I know that in some of the Flame-Weavers there is only a partial
moult, maujr of the feathers gradually changing from brown to orange, or
crimson. (See also Von Heuglin's note on P. franciscana, p. 308).
Illustrations from skins in the Natural History Museum.
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