AMADINA ERYTHROCEPHALA. 467 
455. FoudIA EMINENTISSIMA (Bp.). Splendid Weaver Bird. 
This species has only been found on the Zambesi, where it was 
met with by Dr. Kirk during the Livingstone expedition. 
General colour olive brown with dusky streaks on the back and 
mantle; head scarlet all round; on the rump a few scarlet feathers ; 
wing-coverts and quills edged with olive brown, with whitish marks 
at the ends of the median and greater coverts as well as the inner 
secondaries ; under surface of body pale ochreous buff tinged with 
scarlet on the centre of the breast. Total length, 5:2 inches ; 
culmen, 0°7; wing, 3°15; tail, 2:0; tarsus, 0°85 (Spec. juv. in Mus, 
Brit. ex Zambesi). 
456, AMADINA ERYTHROCEPHALA (Linn.). Red-headed Weaver Finch. 
Sir A. Smith found this species only in the neighbourhood of 
Latakoo, feeding in the native gardens. and congregated together 
in considerable numbers, We have received it from Kuruman and 
Colesberg. Mr. Ortlepp writes that in the latter neighbourhood 
it is rare, and at Priel it was common in large flocks; he found a 
“colony in a large ‘ wait-a-bit’ thorn; a cart-load of grass stuck in 
a fork with two or three dozen apertures bored in below.” . Mr. 
T. C.. Atmore also forwarded us specimens from Griqua Land. 
Mr. Ayres has procured it in the Transvaal, and Dr. Exton has 
forwarded us a specimen from the neighbourhood of Bloemfontein. 
The late Mr. Oates shot a specimen at Tati, and Captain Shelley has 
in his collection a series obtained by Dr. Bradshaw in the Makalaka 
country. “ This pretty bird,” writes Mr. Andersson, “ occurs in Great 
Namaqua Land and at Lake N’gami, also in Damara Land, where, 
however, it is far from common, except in places, being, in fact, 
quite a local species. I found it congregated in large flocks on the 
Omaruru River at the end of October; and it was also pretty 
numerous at Objimbinque, where it nested under the eaves of my 
house and in the adjacent trees in company with the South African 
Sparrow (Passer arcuatus), which it exactly resembles in its manners 
and habits; and I have found the nests of these two species on the 
same tree, and even on the same bough, as well as side by side 
under my eaves. The present species forms its nest of small sticks, 
slender roots, &c., and lines it with wool, feathers, or other soft and 
warm material. The young are fledged in June and July. It seeks 
2n2 
