184 URZGINTHUS ANGOLENSIS 
I do not find the species recorded from Namaqualand and 
Cape Colony. Sir Andrew Smith met with it between Kurri- 
chane and the Tropic of Capricorn. In Natal Captain Savile 
Reid found it in considerable numbers in the bush near Lady- 
smith, in August, also at Colenso and Blaauw Krantz, in 
November, but did not observe it in the Newcastle district. 
Mr. Arnold procured it at Weenen, Mr. Ayres found it abun- 
dant amongst the bush on the banks of the Tugela, and the 
Messrs. Woodward obtained specimens at Eschowe in Zulu- 
land. Stark writes: ‘“ These beautiful little Waxbills are 
usually met with in small parties, but occasionally in autumn, 
after the young have flown, in very large flocks. They prefer 
localities which are partly open, partly overgrown with scrub 
or low trees, and are specially fond of scattered mimosa bushes, 
in which they can take refuge, if disturbed when feeding on 
the ground on their favourite grass-seeds. When frightened 
they rise with a shrill twittering to take shelter in the nearest 
bushes. In spring both male and female sing not unpleasantly. 
Although the adults appear to subsist entirely on grass-seeds, 
the young, before they leave the nest, are fed on small grubs 
and insects. ‘The nest is invariably built in a bush, often in a 
low mimosa, and is generally placed in a fork at a height of 
from three to eight or nine feet. At first sight it looks like 
a ball of dried grass carelessly thrown into a bush; on investi- 
gation a small side entrance, nearly concealed by the projecting 
ends of grass-stalks, may be found leading to the interior, 
which is smoothly and warmly lined with finer dried grass and 
feathers.” 
Mr. Haagner regards it as scarce at Johannesburg, but 
Buckley found it very common through the Transvaal into 
the Matabele country, and Mr. Ayres met with it in flights 
in the Rustenberg district and northward at the Quae Quae 
and Umfuli Rivers. Oates procured it at Tati, and Mr. 
