PYROMELANA ORIX 97 
River Colony to Pretoria in the Transvaal. In Natal Butler, 
Feilden and Reid found it to be common, and also universally 
distributed. Specimens of the male bird were obtained in all 
stages of transition from winter to summer plumage in October 
and November. They were found breeding in considerable 
numbers along the reedy streams near Maritzburg; some of 
the nests contained eggs and others young birds in December, 
and on returning to the same place in the following March 
they were again breeding, evidently for a second time. ‘The 
nests are constructed of grasses, domed, with a side entrance, 
and usually placed among reeds, on the stems of which they 
are formed, about four or five feet from the ground-level, and 
at the water’s edge.” 
Stark remarked that the brilliancy and depth of colour of 
the plumage of the males in summer increases with age. It is 
seldom found at any great distance from marshy ground or the 
reed-overgrown borders of vleis or rivers. It appears to be 
a resident in the localities in which it occurs. In winter these 
birds assemble in flocks, sometimes numbering thousands of 
individuals, and frequently feed in company with other Finches 
on seeds and grain. At night they roost in extensive reed-beds 
or among bushes. In summer the cocks may be seen slowly 
gliding over the reed-beds with a curious hovering flight, 
during which the body is kept very erect, the plumage of the 
lower back puffed out, while that of the neck is erected into 
a frill, looking, in the blazing sunshine, like flames of fire 
slowly drifting to and fro. At times they dance about in front 
of the females with puffed-out plumes, turning from side to 
side, as if to show off the full beauty of their plumage. 
“The eggs, four or five in number, are somewhat pyriform 
in shape and of a uniform pale greenish blue colour. They 
average 0°82 x 0:60. The female sits for fourteen days. ‘he 
young are at first fed on small caterpillars and other insects, 
including the larvee of mosquitoes.” 
[October, 1904, 7 
