WAXBILLS 11^ 



The Orange-breasted Waxbill (E. clarkei) is sometinu-s 

 called the Zebra Waxbill on account of the black and yellow 

 barring on the sides of the body. Chin and eyebrow red ; 

 below, yellowish-orange tinged on the chest and vent 

 with red. Length, 3| inches. This bird was present at 

 Modderfontein (Transvaal) in large flocks during the months 

 of February and March, 1907. It was fairly common in 

 the Pretoria District during April and May, 1920. 



The Swee Waxbill (E. dufremii) is the best known species 

 in the south-east of the Cape Province from Uitenhage to 

 Port Alfred. It is of an olive colour above, with a grey head, 

 scarlet tail-coverts and a black tail. The male has besides, 

 the sides of the face and throat black. Length, 3| inches. 



All the Waxbills are insect and weed seed-eaters, thus 

 being true friends of the agriculturist. 



They all lay white eggs in large, untidy nests built in 

 bushes not far off the ground or in low trees. 



The Bar-breasted Weaver-Finch {Ortygospiza poly zona) is 

 brown above, grey-brown on the sides of the body, and grey 

 on the upper breast ; both the latter regions are barred 

 with black and white. The lower chest is chestnut and the 

 abdominal regions are huffish. The throat is black and there 

 is a white ring round the eye. Length, 3| inches. This little 

 bird is a well-known species in the Central Transvaal, where 

 it may always be found in flocks feeding on the grass and weed 

 seeds in old lands or along grassy roadsides and the like. 



When disturbed it flies up with a curious metallic cry 

 which gave it its local name of " Tink-tinkie." 



It builds a dome-shaped nest under a tussock of grass, 

 and lays four or five pure white little eggs. 



The Social Weaver (Philetaerus socius) is a brown bird 

 with the feathers of the nape and upper back black on the 



