462 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
Of large size, and entirely black; the lesser wing-coverts bright 
orange-yellow, the median series pale fawn-brown, the greater series 
black margined with fulvous; the under wing-coverts partly fawn- 
yellow, partly black ; tail long and graduated ; bill leaden, with the 
cutting edges whitish; iris dusky. Total length, 10°6 inches; 
bill, 0°75; wing, 4°35; tail, 6°3; tarsus, 1°05. 
452, Pyrompiana oryx (Linn.) Red Bishop Bird. 
Ploceus ory#, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 185. 
The “ Red Caffre Fink,” though not an uncommon bird, is cer- 
tainly a very local one; that is, though distributed over the whole 
colony, it seems to be confined to narrow limits. About Cape Town, 
I only know of one place where it is to be found, and that is the 
swampy ground near the Royal Observatory. It breeds in September 
among the reeds growing in the river, supporting its nest on three 
or four stems, like its congener, P. capensis. In the winter time it 
congregates in flocks, and does much damage to the grain fields in 
the neighbourhood of its nesting-place, but never strays away from 
that locality. Nest like that of P. capensis. Eggs four or five; 
pure light blue; axis, 10’; diam., 7’’’. Builds in thousands 
about the swamps and river running out of Zoetendals Vley, also in 
the Boschjeveldt between Swellendam and Robertson (W. Atmore), 
but is not found about Grahamstown, according to Dr. Atherstone. 
Captain Trevelyan informs us that it is tolerably numerous at Peel- 
town, about six miles from Kingwilliamstown, but is very local; and 
we received it from Mr. T. C. Atmore at Eland’s Post. Mr. Ayres 
has found it in Natal, where he only saw it on the reedy banks of 
rivers near the coast, while Mr. Woodward observes that in that colony 
he found it only in the up-country districts, where it assembles in 
small flocks, suspending its nest, which is found of grass of a very 
fine texture, from the flags along the river. Mr. T. E. Buckley met 
with it in the Drakensberg, and also in the Transvaal, where 
Mr. Ayres has also found them breeding in large companies in many 
reedy vyleys and pools, and also in great abundance in the swamps ; 
they assemble in immense flocks both in winter and summer, but 
during the latter season the flocks appear to consist almost entirely 
of males in their gaudy red and black plumage. Mr. F. A. Barratt 
observes :— The ‘Red Caffre Fink’ breeds in reeds near gardens, 
and is plentiful about Bloemfontein, in the Free State, thence to the 
