458 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
edges ; under-wing white; bill red. Length, 4” 6’’’ ; wing, 2” 4”; 
tally 1720", 
Fig. Vieill. Ois. Chant. pl. 21. 
446. QueLEa quer (Linn). Latham’s Weaver Bird. 
Ploceus lathamii, Layard, B.S. Afr. p. 186. 
This species, which was called Lowia lathamii by Sir Andrew 
Smith, was found by him inhabiting the country near to and beyond 
Kurrichane. It extends into the Transvaal, where Mr. Ayres says 
that it is “tolerably common in Potchefstroom and the neighbour- 
hood in summer, associating freely with the flights of Pyromelana 
oryx, which swarms here. It feeds with them on the open grassy 
plains and corn-fields, principally on small grass-seeds which they 
pick up from the ground.” Mr. Jameson met with a small flight 
of these Finches at Kooroomoorooi Pan on the 2nd of January. 
Mr. Andersson says that it ‘is a very common species in Damara 
Land, where it congregates in immense flocks after the breeding 
season; and it is also common in the Lake regions.” Senor 
Anchieta has found it at Humbe and at Capangombe. 
Above, brown: interscapulars and wing-coverts edged, and tipped 
with pale rufous or rusty white; chin, middle of belly, and vent, 
white; breast and sides of belly rusty-white, faintly clouded with 
brown. Length, 4’’. 
Mr. Andersson observes :—“ The iris is brown, the ring round the 
eyes reddish-orange ; the bill scarlet, merging into vermilion at the 
base and at the corner of the mouth; the legs and toes are flesh- 
coloured.” 
Fig. Vieil]l. Ois. Chant. pls. 22, 23, 24. 
447, Cera progne (Bodd). Long-tailed Widow Bird. 
We have only procured this species from the eastern side of the 
colony; it is said to be very common in Kaffraria, and Captain ~ 
Trevelyan tells us it is very common near Kingwilliamstown. Mr. 
Arnott has also sent several specimens from Colesberg. According 
to Mr. Rickard it is common both at Port Elizabeth and Hast London. 
We have seen numbers of specimens from Natal and the Transvaal, 
and Mr. F. A. Barratt has published his experiences of the distribu- 
tion of the species as follows :—“ I first met with this. graceful bird 
in the district of Kingwilliamstown; thence I found it on my 
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