Expeditiun to the Zambesi River. 569 



are small compared with the females and the birds ot the 

 previous season, who still keep the brown plumage_, and the 

 flock that awhile back was nothini^ more than a study in 

 brown becomes all glorious with the gorgeous liveries of 

 the male birds. It is a sight worth seeing to behold a 

 flock go past you, twisting and turning in the bright sun- 

 light across the wide mealie-field, bristling with fresh green 

 blades, then on to the dark-green cover of a reed-bed, 

 whose lowest depths they penetrate and fill with a soft, con- 

 fused chattel ing, for all the world like a fugue in monotone 

 while now and again the males climb to the top of the tallest 

 reeds, their look-out posts, and the setting sun glancing ou 

 their plumage seems to turn each reed-head into a brilliant 

 ruby. 



35. QuELEA QUELKA (Linn.). 



Locally distributed and found in large flocks frequenting 

 the extensive beds of fish-cane near the river and making 

 them resound with their singing, which is not unlike that of 

 Starlings when together. 



At the end of December the males were in full breeding- 

 dress ; while the plumage of the females had also undergone 

 a change, the feathers of the upper parts having become 

 darker, especially on the crown, the buffish-white edgings to 

 the secondaries and feathers of the mantle having disappeared, 

 the yellow edgings to the quills being more distinct, and 

 the eye-stripe and the whole of the underparts being washed 

 with a sandy buff". 



36. Granatina angolensis (Linn.). 



Common and generally seen in pairs. On January 17 

 we found a nest almost ready for eggs among the small 

 branches of an acacia-bush, and about 15 feet up. It was 

 loosely constructed of dried grass, and presented a somewhat 

 untidy appearance. 



37. ESTRILUA ASTRILD (Liuu.). 



Plentiful. Very old males may be distinguished by the 

 whole of the underparts being washed with rosy and the pink 

 on the low^er breast being brighter and more extended, whiW 



