PLOCEPASSER MAHALI. 4.4.7 
General colour of adult male black ; the first half of each wing- 
feather white ; bill orange-red or coral-red; legs and toes orange 
or coral-red; iris dark hazel. The young bird has some whitish 
patches on the neck and breast. Length, 9’’ 6’; wing, 5’’; 
tail, 4”, 
Fig. Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. pl. 64. 
434, PLOCEPASSER MAHALI, Smith. White-browed Weaver Bird. 
P. mahali, and P. pileatus, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 187. 
Sir A. Smith discovered this species to the north of the Orange 
River, where he found it congregating in large flocks, and we have 
_ received specimens from Kuruman, and also from Mr. Ortlepp at 
Colesberg. He writes :—‘‘ Soon after crossing the Orange River at 
Rhama they became plentiful. Several flocks build in the same tree. 
generally on one side only. The nests are kidney-shaped, with two 
entrances from below, with a band of grass between them on which 
are laid the eggs. The grass used is pretty thick at the one end 
which is allowed to bristle out, as the weaving can only be done 
with the ear and a small portion of the stem. I noticed several 
nests of the common Sparrow (P. arcuata) made of the same sort of 
grass and presenting the same bristling appearance. They are active 
birds constantly on the move from tree to tree. When on the 
ground they utter a short “chick chick,’ which is anything but 
pleasant to the ear, although when on the perch their note is 
changed into a short song something like that of Crithagra selbyi:” 
We have received it from Mr. T. C. Atmore, from Griqua Land, and 
in the Transvaal, writes Mr. Ayres:—“ these birds are common 
throughout the bush, but are not seen in open country ; they are 
gregarious, and have a chattering note, which gives the idea of 
sociability. Several build together in the same tree. We found 
plenty of old nests on our late journey to the Limpopo ; they were 
' very rough structures, made up of grass, with the long ends sticking 
out in every direction, and formed like retorts, with two short necks 
hanging down, and with so small a flat surface inside for the eggs to 
lie on, that I cannot understand how it is they do not always roll 
out at one end or the other, especially as the nest is built or hung 
on the outer twigs of the spreading Mimosas, and is very liable to be 
shaken by the wind.” Mr. T. H. Buckley procured it in Matabele 
Land, and at Shashai, and Mr. Ayres has published a note on the 
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