Ornithology of the Matopo District. 557 



180. X Poliospiza gularis. Streaky-headed Seed-eater. 

 Very common throughout ; it is almost as destructive as 



the Bishop- Birds to " amabele." At other times this Seed- 

 eater frequents the open grasslands in the morning and 

 evening, but retires to the shelter of trees during the heat 

 of the day. 



181. Serinus sulphuratiis. Large Yellow Seed-eater. 

 Not uncommon, and frequently to be seen in either the 



Dam or Terminus Hotel gardens. In winter they congregate 

 with other species in the stubbles. 



182. Serinus marshalli. Golden Seed-eater. 



Serinus mai'slialli SlicUey ; Sclater, Annals S. A. Mus. iii. 

 1905, p. 313. 



The Golden Seed-eater is a rare bird, but I obtained a 

 male and female on the cleared ground in front of a hut in 

 January 1912. 



183. X Serinus icterus. Icterine Seed-eater, 



Sind. " iutaga" (also applied to Tetraenura regia and other 

 small birds). 



Common and resident throughout. These little Seed- 

 eaters are found in numbers in the open country, where they 

 frequent the natives' lands and vicinage of kraals; at other 

 times they are to be fonnd at the tops of kopjes, swinging 

 in the uppermost branches of small trees, and uttering their 

 pretty song. In winter they commonly intermingle with 

 Waxbills^ Bishop-Birds, and Finches, and are then to be 

 found in the stubbles, diligently hunting for small seeds, 

 which form their principal food. I found nests in March 

 and April (flocks of the species being noticed at the same 

 time), and the site chosen generally is the fork of an 

 ^'isinga/' but exceptionally the nest is placed in an "^ umqo- 

 golo,'' " umkomatsana," or even an '' mtokwe.^' One nest 

 examined was made of dry grass, fine twigs, grass seeds, and 

 a few small green leaves ; the whole spun round and matted 

 along the edge with vegetable down and spiders' webs ; it was 

 lined with shredded fibre and an extra lining of very fine 



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