HYPHANTURGUS OCULARIUS 387 



the type of the species was discovered by Sir Andrew Smith, 

 and Mr. Henry Ellis obtained the type of Ploreioi gnffm-aUti 

 during an excursion inland from Algoa Bay. Specimens liave 

 been collected by Atmore at Grahamstown and Eland Post, 

 and the Messrs. Woodward procured a fine series at Eschow, 

 in Zululand. Tn the British Museum there are specimens from 

 Durban, Pinetown, Maritzburg, Macamac, Swaziland, Mozam- 

 bique and the Zambesi. 



Stark writes : " In the forest districts of the Eastern 

 Colony this beautiful "Weaver-bird is a not uncommon resident. 

 In Natal and Zululand it is numerous, but is almost invariably 

 in single pairs, and is somewhat shy in its habits. Most fre- 

 quently it is met with iii the more open ' Bush ' or on the 

 wooded banks of streams ; occasionally it frequents shrubberies 

 and gardens. It feeds to a limited extent on seeds and small 

 berries, especially those of the wild date palm, but the bulk 

 of its food consists of insects, particularly of wood-bugs and 

 small beetles that frequent the bark and leaves of trees. 

 Sometimes this bird may be seen scraping among the fallen 

 leaves under a bush in its search for insects. The alarm note 

 is harsh and several tiuies repeated, the ordinary call a rather 

 rapid chattering cry. Of all the South African Weaver-I)irds 

 this species constructs the most beautiful and highly fiuished 

 nest. Shaped like a retort, with the entrance from below 

 thi'ough a long narrow neck, it is suspended from the extre- 

 mity of a drooping branch, usually, but not invariably, over 

 water. It is closely and strongly woven with fine pliable 

 fibres, generally strips from leaves of the wild date, and 

 although it resembles nests of Sycohrotus hkohir \\\ shape, it 

 is readily distinguishable by its smaller size and much neater 

 and more artistic finish. Occasionally a second and even a 

 third entrance neck is added ; this is usually about ten inches 

 long, but a nest in the Albany Museum at Grahamstown has 



