Ange 
HYPHANTURGUS OLIVACEUS, 433 
resemble. The nest is hung from the tip of some bough in the 
thick bush ; it is built in the form of a retort, with the neck hanging 
downwards, and is composed of the tendrils of vines.’ 
It extends right up to the Zambesi, where it was obtained during 
the Livingstone expedition. Captain Shelley, who procured the 
species near Durban, says that “it inhabits the thickest parts of the 
bush, and»being of an inquiring mind, frequently approaches an 
intruder within a few yards, still keeping concealed among the 
thick foliage, though its note is often heard as it creeps through the 
network of boughs.” Mr. Woodward observes: “ It is very different 
in its habits to other Weavers; it always remains in pairs, and builds 
its nest in the thickest parts of the woods; the nest is large and 
roughly put together, but in shape like to that of the Yellow 
Weaver Bird (H. ocularius) ; it looks very pretty hanging from the 
topmost boughs of a high tree. The eggs are white, speckled with 
red; it is a cheerful bird and quite enlivens the bush with its 
peculiar song, which sounds not unlike the creaking of a rusty 
hinge, from which we sometimes call it the ‘ Hinge-bird.’ ” 
General colour above sooty black, including the wings and the 
tail, sides of the face and neck; the chin is dirty white tinged with 
_pale yellow and mottled with brown; the remainder of the under 
surface is bright yellow; “bill very pale horn grey shaded with 
black on the culmen towards the tip; legs lilac pink; irides dark 
brown” (G. H. Shelley). 
Fig. Jard, and Selby, Ill. Orn. new ser. pl. x. 
416. HypnHanturaus oLtvacnus, Hal. 
Olive and Yellow Weaver Bird. 
Hyphantornis awrifrons, and H, capensis, Layard, B.S. Afr. p. 179. 
According to Sir Andrew Smith, this Weaver Bird is generally 
diffused over the more southern districts of South Africa, in flocks of 
from ten to fifteen individuals, building on trees that overhang 
rivers and marshes. The nests are constructed of coarse grass, 
somewhat kidney-shaped, with the entrance towards the upper 
end and directed downwards. The following note was published 
by the author in the first edition of the present work:—“<T 
have found this species to build indiscriminately over the driest 
spots, or over water. At this moment a large colony is estab- 
lished in some fir-trees opposite the house of a friend of mine, 
25 
