Ornithology of the Matopo District. 549 



Apparently resident and common, but owing to the 

 similarity and consequent confusion between this and the 

 last species, I have been unable to succeed in working out 

 the correct status of either. 



158. Amydrus morio. Red-winged Starling. 



This Starling, although essentially a hill bird, invariably 

 roosting therein, is constantly met with in foraging 

 parties on the surrounding veld and foot-hills. These birds 

 seem to feed principally in the early morning and late 

 afternoon, and during the heat of the day are usually to be 

 found round the higher kopjes, either perched on the top of a 

 rock, or flying backwards and forwards in parties along the 

 ranges, making the air ring with their peculiar musical 

 whistle. The Red-winged Starling is a great pest where 

 fruit is grown, but on the other hand devours large quantities 

 of insects and their larvae. For a nesting site, a small ledge 

 or cranny on a krantz is chosen, and the eggs are therefore 

 in many cases extremely hard to procure. 



159, X Sporopipes squamifrons. Scaly-feathered Weaver. 

 Sind. " isoiihlaga.'^ 



Undoubtedly our commonest bird in the open veld, but 

 not found within the hills proper, although it occasionally 

 wanders into some of the valleys on the fringes. It 

 delights in the thorn-veld however, and in many cases is 

 so plentiful that dozens of nests may be found within a very 

 small radius. This Weaver is undoubtedly double-brooded, 

 and, roughly speaking, laying commences in October 

 and continues until May, while the second brood starts 

 in February. In 1912 large numbers had flocked by 

 March 21, but many others were still tied down by the cares 

 of nidification, and I noticed them collecting nesting 

 material as late as the 12th of May. The height at which 

 nests are placed varies considerably, but a site about five or 

 six feet from the ground is chosen in most cases ; excep- 

 tionally, however, nests may be found as liigh as twelve to 

 fifteen feet and as low as a foot. The eggs vary considerably, 

 from the faintly marked grey and greenish type to the dark 



