464. BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
selves ; and his brilliant yellow rump, contrasting with his otherwise 
intensely black plumage, render him peculiarly conspicuous. The 
female resembles the male in the winter dress, being a light brown, 
with a dark stripe down each feather. 
Victorin found the small form at the Knysna and in the Karroo. 
Colonel Bulger met with it near Windvogelberg, and we have 
received it from Mr. T.C. Atmore at Eland’s Post. Captain Trevelyan 
says that it is not a common bird about Kingwilliamstown, but 
he found it plentiful near Grahamstown. Mr. F. A. Barratt states 
that it was common in the Free State and in the Transvaal, and 
he found it breeding near Kronstadt in the Free State, and also 
about Potchefstroom and elsewhere in the Transvaal. At the same 
time it must be remarked that Mr. Ayres has only procured a single 
bird during his residence in the latter country, and we think there 
must be some mistake in Mr. Barratt’s identification. In Natal 
Mr. Ayres says that they frequent more particularly the hills fifteen 
or twenty miles inland; they are found in small companies in the 
open fields, and feed principally on grass seeds. Mr. T. E. Buckley 
shot the species on the Drakensberg, and again in the Matabele 
country ; both his specimens belong to the smaller form. Mr. Oates 
met with it on the Kaar Kloof Heights near Pictermaritzberg as well 
as at Inyati, the Semokwe River, and at Hope Fountain, near 
Gubuleweyo; and it was also procured in the Umyuli River by 
Mr. Jameson, and on the Zambesi River by Dr. Kirk. Mr. Andersson 
gives the following note :—‘‘ This is a comparatively scarce bird in 
Damara and Great Namaqua Land, but is very abundant at Lake 
N’gami; it sometimes occurs in large flocks in the open country, and 
is also found in small communities in the neighbourhood of water 
and in humid situations, where it breeds, constructing its nest of 
strong grasses and suspending it between the stalks of two or three 
reeds.” Senor Anchieta has met with the small race at Caconda. 
The following note on the species appeared in the author’s first 
edition :—‘‘ Having kept several in cages, I am enabled to describe 
the moult which takes place. The first thing which changes is the 
bill: the black commences to show at the tip of the lower mandible, 
which gradually darkens, from its usual horn-colour, to the deepest 
black ; before this is accomplished the upper mandible has begun to 
blacken, and a few black feathers are visible round the neck; the 
breast next shows a change, and a feather or two on the back 
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