the Birds of Humansdorp. 139 



On the morning of the 12th October I took a short walk 

 from mj store on to <i slight rise, and while looking about 

 I saw a lien Whydah fly past with a feather in her bill and 

 alight in some long grass in a niaisliy spot about fifty yards 

 from wdiere I was standing; so I waited, and as soon as she 

 flew away (aitliout the feailier) I went to look and found a 

 nest, but: did not touch it, so I went back a little distance 

 and watched, and then saw a Waxbill with grass in its 

 be dc go to the same spot. Shortly afterwards tbe Whyrlah 

 came back with another feather, and wdiile she was at the 

 nest the male kept bobbing up and down in the air just 

 above the locality, I did not go near again until the 17th 

 when I went to get the nest, and as I got there the Waxbill 

 flew out; so I took the nest, and found five pure white fggs 

 of the Waxbill and two a little larger, also pure white, 

 which must have been laid by the Whydah. I trust this 

 wid be of some interest. 



Rrd-shouldered Widow-Bird {Urohrachya axillaris).— 

 Confined to the Gamtoos River. I have not been able to 

 find any of their nests. 



Malachite Slinbird [Nectarinia famjsa) . — Very common. 

 It builds a domed nest of grass, fibre, and twigs, lined with 

 hair, feathers, and wool, the entrance is at the side near 

 the top ; it is suspended from a branch or bush, usually 

 overhanging a pool or stream or a donga. 



Breeding season October to January. 



It lays two eggs spotted and blotched with brown. 



Lesser Dolble-collared Sukbird .(Clialcomitra clialy- 

 hnis). — Very common in the bushveld. It builds a domed 

 nest of twigs, fibre, and moss, lined with wool and feathers, 

 the entrance being at the side near the top. 



Breeding season October to March. 



Eggs two and of a grey colour thickly spotted with 

 slate. 



Black Sunbird {Clialcomilra ametlir/stimts). — Common in 

 the bushveld. I have never found any of their nests. 



