456 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
females concealed in the grass, would betake themselves to some 
elevated head of corn or rush, and thence survey the field. We 
feel convinced that all the species of the genus Vidua, and also Chera 
progne, that we have encountered in South Africa are polygamous. 
This may also account for what Mr. Atmore and others tell us of the 
breeding of several females of Hstrelda astrild in the same nest. 
Male.—In full breeding plumage, generally velvet-black, with a 
broad half collar beneath of brilliant scarlet; wings, thighs, under 
tail-coverts, and rump striped with grey, that colour being on the 
edges of the feathers; tail elongated. Total length, 10’’ 6’’’; 
tail, 7’; wing, 3”; tarsus, 11”. Male in non-breeding dress 
variegated black on a ochrey-white ground; under parts ochrey- 
white, not so dark as that of the back; wings and tail-feathers black, 
the former edged with whitish; a faint trace of the red collar is 
visible on the throat. 
Fig. Buff. Pl. Enl. 647, 
442, Sprrmesres cucunzata, Swains. Hooded Weaver Finch. 
The chief habitat of this species is the west coast of Africa. Pro- 
fessor Peters, however, procured it at Inhambane. Mr. Ayres has 
found it in Natal, and it appeared in a considerable flock at Table 
Farm near Grahamstown. It is a common West African species, 
and has been found by Senor Anchieta at Dombe and Caconda in 
Benguela. 
General colour above, greenish brown; head, neck, and breast 
deep brown with a purple-bronze gloss; shoulder coverts black, with a 
ereen gloss; under parts white, with bronze patches on sides of flanks 
and wavy lines on the under tail coverts; tail nearly black with 
a slight green gloss. Length, 3” 3’; wing, 1’’ 11'”’; tail,1’’ 4’’’. 
Fig. Reichb. Singv. taf. xii, figs, 114, 115. 
443, SPERMESTES RUFODORSALIS, Peters. 
Rufous-backed Weaver Finch. 
This pretty little species was described by Dr. Peters from Inham- 
bane, but is more generally seen in collections from the Zanzibar 
district. 
Head, neck, breast and tail black; hind-neck, mantle, wing- 
coverts, and tips of secondaries rufous; quills dusky, partly black 
on the outer margin, spotted or banded with white, and internally 
