Resemblance of Soidh African Birds. 3 



may be said to possess protective resemblance in a fairly well- 

 developed degree. Although they have conspicuous colours 

 relieving the brown tint of their plumage, they are nevex'- 

 theless very inconspicuous when feeding on the ground 

 amongst the short grass on the partly bare patches of old 

 lands and alongside roads (their favourite haunts), as tho 

 brighter portions of their plumage are then hidden. Their 

 upper surface, which is of a very assimilative colour, blends 

 with the bird's surroundings to such an extent that to walk 

 amongst a flock of them, and suddenly flush them from 

 almost under one's feet, is a common occurrence. 



To a certain extent these remarks also apply to the Orange- 

 breasted species (E. clarkei), affecting the banks of spruits, 

 &c., and grassy slopes of damp localities ; they are most in- 

 conspicuous little birds, notwithstanding the bright colours 

 which relieve the olive-brown of their upper parts. Perhaps 

 the best endowed member of the subfamily, so far as assimi- 

 lative coloration is concerned, is the little Bar-brea«ted 

 AVeaver Finch {Ortygospiza polyzona), which has only a 

 white chin and a black throat to relieve the buff and brown 

 tints of its feathering. 



Family Fringillid^. 



Before I pass on to the next family I would 1 ke to briefly 

 refer to the C^ape and Rock Buntings. The former 

 {FringUlaria capensis), a tame and pleasing little bird, was 

 fairly common around Aliwal North, CO., in 1894. Its 

 brown coloration struck me as being of immense protective 

 value, as the bird is not easily discernible when sitting against 

 a rock or when creeping amongst the crann'es between the 

 stones. I also noticed this fact with respect to the Eock 

 Bunting (FringUlaria tahapisi). Once, at Irene on the 18th 

 April, I shot one and it fell amongst some loose stones ; 

 it took me fully a minute to find the bird, such was its 

 protective colouring, although the body was not actually 

 hidiJen. 



