DESCRIPTION, DISTRIBUTION, HABITS 



Habits. — This small widow bird inhabits grass-lands and 

 cultivated fields. The male is polygamous, and during the 

 breeding season he may be seen in company with ten to fifty 

 females. During the autumn and winter they collect into 

 large flocks. The nest is of fine grass, and domed. It is 

 concealed in the midst of a tuft of grass a few inches off the 

 ground. Clutch, 3 to 4. 



Common Waxbill {Estrelda astrilda). (Vol. I., p. 198.) 



Description. — Male : brown, finely barred with dusky 

 cross lines. Upper tail coverts and rump with a red tinge. 

 A streak of crimson in front and at the base of the eye. Throat 

 and cheeks tinged with pink. Under tail coverts black. Breast 

 and abdomen slightly pink. The pink is most conspicuous 

 on the centre of the lower part of the breast and abdomen. 

 Under parts closely barred with narrow brown lines. Iris 

 brown. Bill red. Legs and feet brown. 



Length, 4.75 ; tail, 2.15 ; wing, 2.00. 

 Female duller, and less tinged with pink. 



Distribution. — From Cape Province, northwards to Angola. 



Habits. — This well-known waxbill is common all over 

 South Africa in the more open and fertile parts. They associate 

 in flocks and often breed in communities, several pairs sometimes 

 inhabiting the same nest and laying their eggs and sitting in it 

 promiscuously. The nest is of grass, feathers, wool, rags, and 

 anything soft and suitable, making a large mass with an elongated 

 entrance. It is usually placed in a low bramble bush or mass of 

 ferns within a few inches to a foot off the ground. Clutch, 

 3 to 5 ; eggs pure white ; size, 0.60 by 0.35. 



South African Ruddy Waxbill {Lagonosticta rubricatd). 

 (Vol. I., p. 198.) 



Description. — Male : back of neck and crown grey. Back 

 brown. Upper tail coverts and rump crimson. Tail feathers 

 black and crimson. Face crimson. Sides of neck and ear coverts 



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