206 Mr. F. A. Barratt's Notes on the Birds 



71. Lamprocolius phcenicopterus. 



This bird I met with in several parts of the Transvaal and 

 Free State. They congregate in vast flocks, and keep up a 

 harsh chattering noise. I have also shot them near Pretoria, 

 Rustenberg, Potchefstroom, and near Bloemfontein ; and I 

 noticed them on my farm on the Chaumna, British Kaffraria, 

 where they frequented the barns and buildings, continually 

 flying to and fro, like English Starlings. 



72. Pholidauges verreauxi. 



Specimens were procured by me near Rustenberg, asso- 

 ciated with the Amydrus. I also saw odd ones here and 

 there about the old fruit -gardens. 



73. Hyphantornis capensis. 



Procured this bird at Potchefstroom and adjoining district. 

 They build their nests in the trees, and seem to be contin- 

 ually on the move, always appearing too busy to notice the 

 presence of a stranger. 



74. Ploceus oryx. 



The Red '' Caffi-e-Fink " breeds in reeds near gardens, and 

 is plentiful about Bloemfontein, in the Free State, thence to 

 the Vaal river, Kronstadt, near Rustenberg, Pi'etoria, and 

 Potchefstroom. It is a very local bird ; and I found it in only 

 a few places along the Vaal near the Diamond-fields ; but I 

 did not observe it flying everywhere, like Chera progne. 



75. EUPLECTES taha. 



Found this bird flying about the reeds which skirt the 

 ditches &c. I shot my first specimen near the Modder river, 

 near Bloemfontein. It is very plentiful at Potchefstroom 

 about the skirts of the vleys or swamps adjoining the toAvn. 

 I have got them all the way up from the Modder river to 

 Potchefstroom, near Bloemfontein, Rustenberg, Pretoria, 

 Nazareth ; and I think I saw a few near the Gold-fields. 



7Q. EuPLECTES capensis. 



Common in the Free State and Transvaal. I have found 

 them breeding near Kronstadt, in the Free State, also about 

 Potchefstroom and elsewhere in the Transvaal, where they 



