304 AMBLYOSPIZA ALBIFRONS 



generally, with very narrow brownish buff edges ; under surface of wings 

 uniform blackish brown, with a broad white band across the base of the 

 quills. The bi-own throat shades into deep slaty grey on the breast, thighs 

 and under tail-coverts ; the feathers of these parts have obsolete dark shaft- 

 stripes, and whitish edges, broadest and most distinct on the under tail- 

 coverts. " Iris brown ; bill grey ; the base of the upper mandible black ; 

 tarsi and feet reddish brown " (Stark). Total length 7'3 inches, culmen 1-0, 

 wing 3-9, tail 3-0, tarsus 10. i , 16. 10. 75. Pinetown (T. L. Ayres). 



Adult female. Upper parts dark brown, with sandy brown edges to the 

 feathers; tail uniform brown, with obsolete white terminal margins to the 

 feathers ; wings, with the lesser coverts like the back ; remainder of the 

 coverts and the secondaries edged with rufous brown ; ends of the median 

 and greater coverts and the base of the outer webs of some of the primaries 

 buff; under surface of wing with the bastard-primary and end half brown, 

 and the base of the other quill as well as the coverts white ; sides of head 

 rufous brown ; under parts white, with dark brown centres to the feathers, 

 inclining to stripes on the body. Wing 3-4. 2 , 28. 7. 75. Durban (T. L. 

 Ayres). 



The Southern Grosbeak- Weaver ranges over the eastern 

 half of South Africa, from Cape Colony to Lake Nyasa. 



Its most western range is the eastern part of Cape Colony, 

 where the type was discovered, inland from Algoa Bay, by 

 Henry Ellis. It has also been met with in this colony by 

 Rickard at Bast Londou, by Colonel Trevelyau near King- 

 williamstown, and by Sir Andrew Smith, who writes: "The 

 only specimens which have been obtained within the limits of 

 the Cape Colony were discovered in the forests upon the 

 eastern frontier. About Port Natal, however, the bird is not 

 so rare, and specimens are readily to be obtained there at all 

 seasons of the year. It feeds principally upon berries and 

 small fruits." 



Stark writes : " I have myself only met with this Weaver- 

 bird on the coast of Natal and Zululand, amoug the tall reeds 

 that border many of the rivers and lagoons. In many such 

 localities it is quite abundant, outnumbering any other species 

 of the family. This species builds among the reeds and, its 



