LAGONOSTICTA JAMESONI. 475 
the bill purplish, but red at the extremity ; the legs are purplish 
grey.” 
. Fig. Vieill. Ois, Chant. pl. 17. 
467, Laconosticta rusricata (Licht.). 
South African Ruddy Waxbill. 
Estrelda rubricata, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 197, 
This little species is common about Grahamstown, and we have 
received the nest and eggs from Mrs. Barber, taken at Highlands ; 
‘ the eggs are pure white; axis, 7’’’; diameter, 54’’’. In Natal, 
writes Mr. Ayres :—“ These Finches are generally found in pairs, 
and never congregate like Hstrelda astrild. Their food consists of 
grass-seeds ; they frequent rough high grass, hedgerows, and low 
underwood at the edges of the dense bush. Their nest is generally 
placed a foot or two from the ground, supported amongst coarse 
grass; in shape it much resembles that of Hstrelda astrild, but 
is built of coarser materials and lined with feathers; the eggs are 
of a pure white, and from four to six in number.” 
Captain Shelley procured specimens near Pinetown, and it has 
also been obtained in the Transvaal by Mr. Ayres, who met with 
it in the Lydenberg district. 
Above dark olive-brown; rump vinaceous; beneath the same, 
changing into brown in the centre of the belly ; vent and tail black; 
spot between the bill and the eye the same colour as the lower 
parts ; sides of chest ornamented with minute white dots ; under tail- 
_ coverts black; bill black. Length, 4’’; wing, 2’’; tail, 1’” 9’”’, 
Fig. Vieill. Ois. Chant. pl. 9. 
468. Laconosticra yamesont, Shelley. Jameson’s Ruddy Waxbill. 
_ This species is described by Captain Shelley as very closely allied 
to L. rubricata, but the red portions of the plumage are paler and 
of a pinker hue; the white spots on the sides of the chest are 
scarcely visible ; the sides of the head are rosy pink, like the chest ; 
the upper parts are tinted with the latter colour, most strongly 
so on the sides of the crown and back of the neck. The present 
bird was discovered during Mr. Jameson’s travels in the Mashoona 
country, and Mr, Ayres gives the following note :—“ We met with 
but very few of these Finches; near the Umyuli we found them 
oo 
