552 Mr, L. B. Mmiritz on the 



and rending it to pieces, keeping up the while a constant 

 chatter, and unless they are continually molested, they will 

 carry their depredations to an incredible extent. 



163. J Euplectes xanthomelas. Black-thighed Bishop-Bird. 

 Pyromelana capensis xaathomelcena (Hiipp.) ; Scl. i. p. 133. 

 Sind. " isikwe." 



Fairly common throughout, and even found on the ranges 

 well within the hills, where they are, if anything, more 

 numerous. Uncommon at Fortusher in 1908. Although 

 sometimes nesting along the rivers with, or close to the 

 colonies of the Red Bishop-Bird, I have noticed that this 

 species is more frequently found breeding away from water 

 in this district. In March I found it nesting in t;ill grasses 

 near the top of Mtaba mnyama. On November 30, 1910, I 

 noticed several males in full breeding plumage and others 

 in transitional ; whilst I have found them changing back 

 to their winter plumage as early as the 8th of March — the 

 majority, however, begin to show brown plumage about the 

 middle of April. This Bishop-Bird flocks in March or April, 

 and then resorts to the cultivated lands and, in company 

 with Kaffir Finks, Doves, etc., seems to devote as much time 

 as possible to the general assault on tiie mealies and corn, 



164. Amadina erythrocephala. Red-headed Weaver-Finch. 

 This Weaver-Finch is a bird which I have seldom seen 



here, and it will probably prove uncommon. Its ally — 

 A. fasciata, which occurs at Bulawayo — may also be found, 

 as I believe I saw an individual at the Kimono Mine in 

 November 1910. 



165. J Pytelia melba. Southern Red-faced Weaver-Finch. 



Common within the hills and fairly numerous on the sur- 

 rounding veld. On February 7, I found a pair gathering 

 nesting material and carrying it to an old scherm at an 

 uninhabited kraal, and later noticed it frequently gathering 

 feathers round onr kitchen. 



166. X Estrilda astrild. Common Waxbill. 



The Common Waxbill is a plentiful resident in the open 

 country — where it delights in the open grassland bordering 



