ESTRELDA ASTRILD. 471- 
it in the Kaffir gardens a few miles further north. I also met with 
it at Rustenberg. They congregate in large flocks, and are said 
by the Boers and farmers to do considerable damage to the grain 
crops.” Mr. Frank Oates procured it at Tati in the Matabele country, 
where also it was observed by Mr. Ayres during Mr. Jamegon’s 
recent expedition. Mr. Andersson observes :— This pretty little 
species is common in the southern districts of Damara Land and in 
some parts of Great Namaqua Land, as well as at Lake N’gami. It 
lives in flocks, and is generally found upon the ground, where it 
seeks its food, which consists of seeds, insects, &c.’? Mr. Monteiro 
found this bird very abundant in Angola, particularly to the south, 
where it is gregarious and seen in flocks of hundreds of individuals. 
We extract the following note of the author from the first edition 
of the work :—“ They breed in communities, and it is said that 
several inhabit the same nest, laying and sitting in it promiscuously, 
and sometimes three or four together. The nest is a large structure, 
composed of straw, grasses, feathers, wool, paper, rags, &c. It 
is often as large as a stable bucket, round, and with an entrance 
in the side. The interior is a mass of feathers; and the eggs, from 
eight to fourteen in number, are pure white, oval, and about 7/’’ 
long, by 4’”’ broad. 
«These birds live well in confinement, and add much to the 
appearance of an aviary, by their sprightliness, and the beauty 
of their plumage when many are together. It is no uncommon 
thing to see a dozen or more on one perch, sitting close up to each 
other, for company’s sake. I have four which have separated them- 
selves into two pairs, though agreeing all well together. The birds 
of each pair are always together, cleaning and caressing each other. 
When I put in the bathing vessels, they crowd into them in defiance 
of all the bigger and stronger birds; and it is no unusual thing 
to see two canaries, or one canary, the ‘king of the roodebees,’ and 
three or four ‘roodebecs,’ all in the vessel at once, splashing, 
ducking, and jostling one another in the narrow bounds to which 
their cage restricts them.” 
Mr. Atmore writes, December, 12th, 1867:—“ You know what a 
funny wisp of a nest it makes and how carefully concealed, but how 
such small birds carry such large bents of grass is a puzzle. The 
inside is very watm and comfortable, and what may be called the 
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