332 Mr. E. Symoiids un Birds 



40. CoLiusPAssER PROCNE (Bocld.). Loug-tailcd Widow- 

 bird. 



These birds are common in all this district and are very 

 destructive on corn-lands. 



41. Pyromelana oryx (Linn.). Southern Red Bishop- 

 bird. 



This is also a very common species here. 



42. QuELEA LATHAMf (Smith). Latham^s Weaver-bird. 

 These little birds seem to be particularly fond of the town 



of Kroonstadj which they frequent in large numbers. I have 

 several in my aviary^ and observe that in summer, when the 

 males get their red colour about the head, the bills of the 

 females turn yellow. 



43. Amadina erythrocephala (Linn.). Red-headed 

 Weaver-bird. 



I saw these birds for the first time in May 1885, and had 

 two in confinement, but they unfortunately died. I have 

 never seen them in our summer months. I think a pair 

 built on a Eucalyptus tree in Kroonstad in July 1886, as I 

 saw them on several occasions going to a nest in the tree 

 with grass and feathers, and was quite close enough to see 

 them plainly. T did not disturb them, hoping to get the 

 young ones, but I left home for a few weeks, and on my 

 return the birds were gone ; the nest had droppings &c. 

 round it and the usual signs of having been occupied by 

 young birds. 



44. Hyphantornis mariquensis (Smith). Capricorn 

 Weaver-bird. 



The nests of these Weaver-birds are to be found on nearly 

 every tree overhanging the river ; their eggs vary greatly 

 from cream-colour not spotted to greenish thickly spotted 

 with reddish brown. 



[The specimens sent by Mr. Symonds appear to me to 

 belong to the larger and duller-coloured race of H. velatus, 

 which should probably be referred to Ploceus ma7-iquensis of 

 Smith, as to which see Captain Shelley's remarks at p. 31 of 

 the present volume. — J. H. G.] 



