COLIUSPASSER PROGNE 35 
moded by its great size; but in the early morning when the 
grass is still wet with dew, or after a shower of rain, not a bird 
will be visible; they are then hiding under the grass, so 
hampered by their wet and heavy tails as to be unable to 
rise. At such times numbers are caught by the Zulu boys, 
who prize the long tail-feathers as head-dresses. In autumn 
both old and young collect in flocks of thousands and frequently 
leave the neighbourhood of their breeding place. At this 
season, until the following spring, they roost in dense reed-beds 
or among thick bushes. During autumn and winter they feed 
largely upon grass-seeds, millet and grain, in summer to a 
considerable extent on various insects. ‘The young are fed on 
small caterpillars, grubs and termites. As soon as the males 
begin to assume their long tails in spring the flocks break up, 
and each male, accompanied by from ten to fifteen females, 
repairs to some suitable breeding place. As soon as they have 
fixed on a locality the females separate and each one proceeds to 
construct a nest in a thick tuft of grass. The cock meanwhile 
keeps a look-out from some point of vantage and spends most 
of his time in driving off other cocks who attempt to trespass 
on the territory occupied by his harem. He takes no part 
in the construction of any of the nests; should he see a man or 
beast of prey approaching he flies round with a warning cry, 
upon which the hens leave their nests, creep under the grass 
for a short distance, then rise and fly off until the danger 
is past. The nest is an oval, domed structure, with a side 
entrance, roughly woven out of fine grass lined with the 
flowering tops of grass and reeds. It is generally placed a few 
inches off the ground, in the centre of a tuft of grass, attached 
by its sides to many grass stalks, the blades and tops of which 
are bent down and tied together to form an additional con- 
cealment and protection. The female sits for fourteen days. 
The eggs, usually four in number, are small considering the 
