120 ESTRILDINZ. 
it closely resembled those of the other members of the genus, 
was extremely common at Neguruman in flocks of one hundred 
and fifty to two hundred, but he did not observe it elsewhere. 
It frequented the country covered with grass and scrub, in 
which it was breeding. The nests he found contained three 
eggs, and in structure resembled those of Pyromelana nigri- 
ventris, that is, an oval nest constructed of grass, with the 
entrance at one side. 
Mr. Jackson found it very plentiful in the long bushy grass 
at Njemps, on Lake Baringo, and in flocks at Nandi up to 
6,500 feet. Mr. Neumann records it from Kavirondo, and 
Dr. Ansorge collected specimens in Unyoro and at Masindi. 
Emin has sent many specimens from Wadelai and Lado, and 
at the latter place obtained the type of the species. 
Subfamily II. ESTRILDINZAD. 
The members of this subfamily, like those of the Vidwine are distin- 
guished from the Ploceide by their first or bastard primary being very small, 
narrow and sharply pointed, and in the latter the tail is always square or 
rounded, and shorter than the wing. 
The Hstrildine are distinguished from the Vidwine by the upper parts 
being often barred but never striped, by having no distinctly marked seasonal 
plumage, and by the sexes being at all times very similar in plumage. 
Bill variable in length and strength, the culmen (excepting in Spermestes 
Jringilloides) shorter than the tarsus, smallest and most narrow in Nesocharis, 
widest and strongest in Pyrenestes, in which the upper mandible generally 
has a tooth-like notch. In Nigrita it is somewhat flattened and widened to 
such an extent that one of the species was formerly referred to the Musci- 
capide. Nostrils generally, but not always, hidden by the frontal feathers. 
Wing (excepting in Amadina and Philetairuws) rounded; first or bastard 
primary very small, second primary generally shorter than the fifth, but is 
one of the longest in Amadina, Philetairus, Padda, Uroloncha, Ortygospiza 
and Spermestes. Tail (excepting in Philetawrws) rounded or graduated, of 
the same size and form at all seasons, and (excepting in Ureginthus) not 
longer than the wing. 
Members of the genera Lagonosticta and Pytelia may be readily recog- 
nised by the terminal third of the first long primary being very narrow, and 
generally distinctly cut away on the inner web. 
