SERINUS BUTYRACEUS. 195 



In Benguela, Anchieta procured a specimen at the Rio 

 Chimba, which is in the British Museum, and he informs us 

 that the species is known to the natives at Biballa as the 

 "Kianja" and at Caconda as the "Kabilo " and he also procured 

 the species at Quissange. 



These Canaries are common and very evenly distributed 

 throughout the whole of South Africa and the greater portion 

 of Tropical East Africa. According to Stark : " In its habits 

 it is lively and excitable, but at the same time tame and 

 confiding. In the spring of the year the cock is much given 

 to chasing the hens, as well as intruding males of his own 

 species, when not uttering his melodious song of seven flute- 

 like notes, from the top of a bush. During the winter months 

 these seed-eaters collect in small flocks and frequent open 

 ground and stubble-fields in search of small seeds which they 

 habitually eat. They frequently feed along with other Finches 

 and Waxbills. In summer they vary their diet with small 

 beetles, caterpillars, and other insects, and I have even seen 

 individual birds taking flies on the wing. They are fond, also, 

 of sipping the nectar from the blossoms of certain creepers 

 that are much frequented by Sunbirds. Owing to its pretty 

 plumage, its gay and lively disposition, and its charming song, 

 this species is frequently caught and caged, and is even 

 exported to Europe as a cage-bird. The nest, a neat and 

 pretty cup-shaped structure, is built in a low bush, in September 

 or October, of dry stalks of grass and flowers, lined with finer 

 grass and cotton down. From three to five eggs are laid, of a 

 pale bluish ground colour, sparingly spotted towards the larger 

 end with pale reddish brown. They measure 0'68 x 0"52. 

 The female sits for twelve or thirteen days, and the young 

 remain in the nest for about twenty-four days. They are fed 

 on insects, and are at first covered with yellowish white down." 



According to Mr. Boyd Alexander the species is common 



