178 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



The Sub-Family, PLOCEIN^, or Weavers, 



have the bill strong and conic, with the culmen projecting on 

 the forehead, and arched to the tip, which ia entire ; the 

 wings somewhat rounded, with the first quill remarkably 

 short ; the legs and toes robust, and strongly scaled, and the 

 hind toe strong, and nearly as long as the middle toe. 



Genus TEXTOR, Temminck. 

 Bill more or less long, conic, broad at its base, laterally com- 

 pressed, with the basal portion of the culmen advancing on 

 the forehead (in some seasons swollen), and curved towards 

 the tip ; the lateral margins sinuated, and the gonys long 

 and ascending ; the nostrils basal, lateral, naked, and pierced 

 in the substance of the bill; wings somewhat rounded, and 

 reaching a little below the base of the tail, with the first quill 

 very short, and the second nearly equalling the third and 

 fourth, which are the longest ; tail moderate, and rather 

 rounded ; tarsi equal in length, with the middle toe robust, 

 and strongl}'- scaled ; toes short, and strongly scaled ; the 

 lateral toes equal, the hind toe equalling the inner, and the 

 claws strong, and curved. 



354. Textor Erythrorhynchus, Smith ; in. s. 



Af. Zool, PI. 64; Bubalornis Niger, A. Smith. 



Gereral colour of adult male, black ; the first half of each 

 wing-feather white ; bill orange-red ; legs and toes, yellowish- 

 brown. The young bird has some whitish patches on the 

 neck and breast. Length, 9" 6'" ; wing, 5" ; tail, 4". 



Dr. A. Smith procured this bird after passing the 25th degree of 

 south latitude, frequenting herds of buffaloes, and perching on their 

 backs in search of the parasitical insects which infest their hides. I 

 have received specimens from Damaraland. 



Genus HYPHANTORNIS, Gray. 

 Bill as long as, or shorter than, the head, broad at the base, 

 laterally compressed at the tip, with the culmen broad, 

 smooth, and rounded, advancing to a point on the forehead, 

 and the lateral margins slightly angulated at the base, and 

 straight towards the tip ; the nostrils basal, exposed, oval, and 

 pierced in the substance of the bill ; wings reaching a little 

 beyond the base of the tail, the first quill very short, the 

 second equalling the sixth ; the third, fourth, and fifth of 

 neaily equal length, but the fourth the longest ; tail rather 

 short, even, or slightly rounded at the end ; tarsi as long as 



