Birds of Albany Division, Cape Colony. 83 



30. Petronia petronella (Gray). Diamond Sparrow. 

 In Winter they assemble in flocks amongst the high trees 



around town, but in Summer they resort to the high bush- 

 veld, where they almost constantly affect the decaying branches 

 of dead trees. The vernacular name of " Rock Sparrow 

 by which this bird is commonly known in the text-books is a 

 complete misnomer, as the bird is a true arboreal species, 

 seldom alighting on the ground except when attracted by 

 grain, which they readily eat, although they are principally 

 animal feeders. So far we have only found them breeding 

 in the hollows of trees and posts, and do not know of a single 

 authentic case of a nest being found in a hole in a krantz 

 or wall. 



31. Passer melanurus (P. L. S. MiilL). Cape Sparrow. 

 (P. ai'ciiatus, Stark, vol. i. p. 160.) 



The Mossie only occurs near Grahamstown as an occasional 

 winter visitor. It begins to occur more frequently as the 

 higher veld near the Fish River is reached, where little 

 colonies of these birds are met with nesting in thorn-trees 

 close to the roadside, or in holes in the walls of outhouses, 

 and even in the water- spouts and under the eaves. They 

 feed equally on grain and insect life and are not impartial to 

 the young buds of trees. 



32. PoLiosPiZA gularis (Smith). Streaky-headed Seed- 

 eater. 



Very common. Eggs usually number four or five. 



33. Serinus canicollis (Swains.). Cape Canary. 



Very common. The nest, so far as our experience goes, is 

 always lined with the downy seed-tops of various plants. 



34. Serinus sulphuratus (Linn.). Large Yellow Seed- 

 eater. 



Common. Nest and eggs similar to those of P. gularis. 

 During the Winter months these birds and P. gularis 

 congregate together in flocks, and feed largely on the dry 

 sunflower heads. 



35. *Serinus flavivexteis (Swains.). Yellow-bellied 

 Seed-eater. 



Very seldom met with until the Lower Karoo begins. We 

 have taken a few specimens in Albany. 



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