452 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA, 
warmly lined with the soft silky down of a species of Asclepia, and is 
of much the same shape as the nest of Lstrelda astrild, but with a 
more prolonged entrance, which gives the nest the appearance of 
a retort placed horizontally in the bush, with the neck inclining 
slightly downwards. The eggs are five in number, of a greenish- 
white, much blotched with umber-brown, especially towards the 
thicker end, and sometimes much marked with brown lines.” 
Mr. Frank Oates procured a specimen on the Semokwe River, 
and Mr. Jameson found the species breeding on the Palatswie 
Pan in December. According to Mr. Andersson, “ this species is 
widely and commonly diffused over the middle and southern portion 
of Damara Land ; it is also pretty common in Great Namaqua Land, 
in the Lake regions, and at the River Okavango. It is a gregarious 
species, and is comparatively tame, often taking up its abode close 
toman. It feeds on grass-seeds and insects, which it chiefly seeks 
on the ground amongst the grass, resorting in small flocks to open 
localities thinly covered with dwarf vegetation.” 
Mr. Monteiro states that it was only observed by him in the rocky 
barren districts to the south of Benguela ; and Senor Anchieta has 
procured it at Humbe on the Cunene River. 
General colour above, light liver brown; feathers of wings and tail 
darker, edged with white; top of head and moustache black; the 
feathers of the first being edged with white, giving a scaly appear- 
ance; under parts dusky white; “ the irides are dark brown; the 
bill yellow horn-colour, darkest above; the legs and toes yellow 
brown (Andersson). Length, 2'’ 6'’ ; wing, 2’ 5’”; tail, 1’ 9’. 
Fig. Smith, Ml. Zool. 8. Afr. pl. 95. 
438,  Vinva verreauxu, Cass. Verreaux’s Widow Bird. | 
This is a South African representative of Vidua paradisea, from 
which it only differs in being a little smaller, and having the back 
of the neck slightly paler. Captain Bulger procured the species at 
Windyogelberg, and Mr. I’, A. Barratt had specimens in his collee- 
tion from the vicinity of Rustenberg. Mr. Oates obtained a male 
at Tati, and Dr. Kirk on the Zambesi and Shire Rivers. Mr. 
Andersson writes :—‘‘This species occurs in Damara Land in the wet 
season, but is even scarcer than Vidua principalis in that country, 
though not unfrequent at Lake N’gami.” Senor Anchieta has met 
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