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as the " Zembo-zembo," and like Andersson, remarked tliat 

 several pairs construct one block of nests for their common 

 use, the diameter of which is over 20 inches. Van der 

 Kellen also procured the species in the Upper Cunene district 

 near Hurabe. 



Andersson writes : " Rather common in Damaraland and 

 also in the Lake regions, where it is known to the natives 

 by the name of ' Tsaba Gushoa.' It is a noisy species, 

 gregarious in its habits, breeding in colonies, and constructing 

 many nests in the same tree ; it seems to prefer the giraffe- 

 acacia for the purpose of nidification ; and it is curious that 

 when these birds have used a tree for this purpose it usually 

 withers in a short time after the building of the nest is 

 completed ; but whether the birds instinctively select such 

 trees as have a tendency to decay, I am unable to say. The 

 collective nests consist externally of an immense mass of dry 

 twigs and sticks, in which are to be found from four to six 

 separate nests or holes of an oval form, composed of grass 

 only, but united to each other by intricate masses of sticks, 

 defying the icgress of any intruder except a small snake. In 

 each of these separate holes are laid three or four eggs, 

 exactly resembling Sparrows' eggs, but much larger. I 

 obtained no less than forty of the eggs (all much incubated), 

 on January 29, from two low trees standing close together, 

 at Amatoni, in latitude 18° south; and on the following day 

 the birds were busy in repairing one of the collective nests, 

 which had been injured during the collection of the eggs which 

 it contained. I believe these nests are annually added to; for, 

 so far as I have been able to see, the same nest is retained for 

 several consecutive seasons." 



The species has not yet been recorded from further south 

 than Damaraland and the Transvaal. Sir Andrew Smith 

 writes : " It was not till after we had passed to the north- 



(February, I'.'Oo. 31 



