Birds of Gazaland. 25 



breeding male measured 1.2"25 inclics. Bill in tlie non- 

 breeding male blackish tinged Avith red^ most strongly on 

 the basal half of the gonys, and in the female light brown ; 

 feet pale flesh-coloured in the hen, black in the breeding 

 male. 



35. Vidua paradisea. Paradise Widow-Bird. 



lib. I noted one of these striking Widow-Birds on the 

 hills near the upper Buzi, 3500 ft., early in April of last 

 year, and another in the bush to the south of the Umvum- 

 vumvu on the 30th of the same month ; the latter was flying 

 high above the trees with short forcible undulations, quite 

 a long and strong flight for a bird with so disproportionate 

 a tail. 



36. HypocHEKA FUNEREA. Black Widow-Bird. 



Rh., P. I noted this Widow-Bird several times during 

 my stay in the Jihu in August, usually in flocks of from twelve 

 to twenty individuals, of which from one to four would be in 

 the full black plumage. It is perhaps noteworthy that its 

 nearest relatives. Vidua principalis and CoUopasser ardens, 

 were at that time to be found only in winter dress in the 

 same locality. It was probably breeding, as the testes of 

 my specimens were well developed. Occasionally a solitary 

 male, in the black plumage, would join the path-feeders and 

 shew considerable tameness, though I found the flocks 

 (which were feeding in old cultivated ground, and would rise 

 into the branches of large and, preferably, bare trees on being 

 disturbed) very unapproachable. Length in the flesh of 

 the breeding male 4'85 inches ; bill white (in one specimen 

 tinged with pinkish grey) ; feet whitish tinged with pink. 



37. Petronia petronella. South-African Rock-Sparrow. 



Rh., P. 1 shot one of these birds at Melsetter on Sep- 

 tember 24th. It was perched on the top of a small tree, 

 uttering a loud, ringing chirrup, rapidly repeated for a long 

 time on end : " Clieu-cheu-cheu," &c. I subsequently came 

 across the species again on the Kurumadzi, and on December 

 ]9th secured a third specimen at Chironda, on the lower 



