2S On some Mcinl/ers o/ tlic Fdiiiil// Ploccidye. 



4. QlIKLEA QUELRA. (Red-hillcil "Wt'iiver.) 



Fairly common here all the year round ; they Imilil nests 

 in an aviary, but pull them to pieces as fast as they huild 

 them, and I have never yet known them lay in confinement. 

 Can anyone tell me the meaning and derivation of the name 

 Quelea ? 



5. Caliopasser phocne. (Great-tailed Widow Bird.) 

 Common here all the _year round. 



6. Pyeomelana oryx. (Red Bishop Bird.) 



Very common here, and builds in the reeds on the river- 

 bunks. 



7. Pyromelana capexsis. (Black -and -Yellow Bishop 

 Bird.) 



Also common in the lonji crass altout the vleis. 



8. Amadina erythrocephala. (iied-hcaded Weaver 

 Finch.) 



Common here throughout the year ; very tame and lives 

 well in a cage, where it attracts others, which come and sit 

 on the outside of the aviary. 



9. EsTRlLDA ASTRILDA. (Common Waxbill.) 



Large flocks here all the year. They make churming 

 little cage-birds. 



10. Estrilda angolensis. (Blue-breasted "Waxbill.) 

 These are decidedly rare here, and some years conspicuous 



by their complete absence. I have only found them in the 

 summer, and once found a nest in a low mimosa-bush on 

 the llhenoster River : I saw the bird Hy out and took the 

 nest, which was rather oval-shaped, made of dried grass, and 

 was not lined. The etTjrs, six in number, were round and 

 })ure white. These are delicate birds and difficult to keep 

 in a cage, the cold winters seeming to kill them. 



11. EsTRlLDA GRANATINA. (Grenadine Waxbill.) 



Some years these beautiful birds are plentiful and found 

 winter and summer in the bush along the river and also at 



