138 Mr. B. A. Masterson on 



nest ; the building-material is a red fibre, torn from the 

 edge of the lea£ o£ a plant that grows in the bushveld. 



Breeding season October to February. 



It lays three pinkish-white eggs spotted witb brown. 



Forest Weaver-Bird {Sitagra gregalis). — Common in 

 the bushveld. It builds a kidney-shaped nest of fine tendrils 

 of creepers. The nest has a long neck, this being the entrance 

 to the nest ; it is suspended from the branch of a high tree, 

 sometimes ovei'hanging water. 



Breeding season October to January. 



It lays two eggs of a bluish colour, spotted and blotched 

 with brown. 



Cape Bishop-Bird (Pi/romclana capensis). — Very common. 

 It builds a domed nest with the entrance at the side near 

 tlie top ; it is made of fine grass, lined with grass seed-tufts. 

 It is usually placed in the long grass or bushes growing 

 beside a stream or pool of water. 



Breeding season October to January. 



It lays two to three eggs of a bluish-grey colour spotted 

 and mottled with slaty. 



Long-tailed Widow-Bird (CoUopasser procne). — Com- 

 mon in certain parts of the distiict. It builds a domed nest 

 of grass, with the entrance at the side near the top. It is 

 placed in long grass on the ground, usually in a marshy 

 place. 



Breeding season October to January. 



It lays three bluish-grey eggs spotted and blotched with 

 greyish brown. 



Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua principalis). — Very common. 

 I found a nest of the latter with nine eggs, five of the usual 

 •size and four slightly larger and rounder, the four I took to 

 belong to the Whydah. 



What I am about to relate may assist in establishing 

 Mr. Roberts's claim in connection with the nestino-habits 



o 



of the Pin-tailed Whydah {Vidua principalis). 



