60 Mr. L. E. Taylor on the 



75. CoLioPASSER PROCNE. (Great-tailed Widow Bird.) 

 (a) S. 25.12.03. 



In stomach seed (oats). 



(&) ? . 



The Great-tailed Widow Bird is very common in the open 

 veld and near tlie river. 



76. CoLiOPASSEK ARDENS. (Rcd-colLired Widow Bird.) 

 (a) 6. 11.12.03. 



The Red-collared Widow Bird is a very common resident. 

 They are polygamous, and in winter the males, females, and 

 young assemble in huge flocks. I have never seen these 

 birds far from water, and they breed in long grass by the 

 river side. A nest found in March 1905 contained young 

 birds just hatched; it was domed, with the entrance at the 

 side, and built about 2 feet from the ground between tall 

 grass- stems. 



77. Vidua principalis. (Pin-tailed Widow Bird.) 

 The Pin-tailed Widow Bird is very common. 



82. Hypochera funerea amauroptera. (Steel-coloured 

 Widow Finch.) 



(a) 6- 1.1.04. Bill white. 



{h) 6. 16.1.04. Bill salmon. 



(c) 6 . 26.2.04. Bill pinkish. 



This species is not uncommon here and is resident. They 

 are very shy, except in winter, when they feed round 

 buildings on small seeds which they obtain by scratching up 

 the ground like a fowl. They go about in small flocks, and 

 the females usually outnumber the males. The bill of this 

 bird varies in colour from white to red, red being the more 

 common. When disturbed they fly high and generally 

 settle on the very top of a tree. 



83. Petronia petronella. (South African Rock 

 Sparrow.) 



(c) S- 23.9.04. 



In stomach seeds and insects. 



This is the only example of this species which I have seen ; 



