Birds of Albani/ Dlrision, Capi' Colon//. 81 



we discovered six or seven nests at altitudes varying from 

 twenty to forty feet. Their song is a sweet weird one, and 

 not at all harsh or creaking as it has been described. The 

 bird is locally known as the " Bosmusikant " or "Bush- 

 musician." 



IG. *Amblyospiza ALBiFJiONS (Vig.). Thick-billed 

 Weaver. 



Several clutches of eggs were taken at Blue Krantz. 

 The nests are woven very close and constructed of very fine 

 materials. 



17. Sporopipes squamifrons (Smith). Scaly-feathered 

 Weaver. 



Not uncommon at irregular intervals. 



18. Lagonosticta rubricata (Licht.). Ruddy Waxbill. 

 Fairly common throughout the district ; was particularly 



so at Alicedale Poort on the 12th January, 1907, where 

 several flocks of from four to ten individuals feeding on the 

 ground were observed. 



Eight eggs have been taken from a single nest; hence it is 

 probable that several females lay in one nest — or harbour 

 some parasitical species not yet discovered f. 



19. *EsTRiLDA ASTRILDA (Linn.). Common Waxbill. 

 Common throughout. 



20. EsTRiLDA GRANATINA (Linn.). Yiolot-eared Waxbill. 

 Very rare in Albany. cJ , August 1903. Cere red. 



Not previously recorded from Southern Districts. 



21. *EsTRiLDA DUFRESNii (Vicill.) . Swec Waxbill. 

 Common. The nest is generally situated in an aloe, thorn, 



or other bush, about three to six feet from the ground. 

 Locally known as the " Swee" throughout the South-eastern 

 Province. 



22. Ortygospizapolyzona (Temm.). Bar-breasted Finch. 

 At times fairly plentiful, but rarely nests in the District. 



"f [See Mr. A. Roberts's paper on Vidua principalis in this No. — Edd.] 

 SER. II. — VOL. I. 6 



