494 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1909. 
Yet their spouses are the very opposite, resembling the females of the 
Pyromelana in their somber dress, which is of very material assist- 
ance to them among the long grass of the veld, and especially so in the 
nesting season. During the winter months, when the cock birds have 
doffed their showy attire, they have the same advantage as the females 
of an inconspicuous plumage. This is also the case with regard to 
the pin-tailed widow (Vidua principalis) and the remainder of the 
species of Vidua, also the red-billed weaver (Quelea quelea). 
One of the reasons for the gaudy attire of the males, or rather lack 
of protective coloring, may be the more or less polygamous habits 
these birds are accredited with. An interesting case is that of the 
little scaly-feathered weaver (Sporopipes squamifrons), which is a 
denizen of bushy country, where its light-brown plumage lends itself 
admirably toward the concealment of the bird; even during the winter 
months, when the camel thorns and mimosas (Acacia giraffe and 
A. horrida) are devoid of leaves, their inconspicuous dress is of enor- 
“mous value in aiding them to find a hiding place. The second sub- 
family, the Estrildine, is a large one, containing those well-known 
little birds called rooibekkies (from the color of their bills) and tink- 
tinkies (from their call). Two of the commoner species of Z'strelda, 
the red-breasted and black-faced waxbills (2. astrilda and EL. erythro- 
nota), may be said to possess protective resemblance in a fairly well- 
developed degree. Although they have conspicuous colors relieving 
the brown tint of their plumage, they are nevertheless very inconspicu- 
ous when feeding on the ground among the short grass on the partly 
bare patches of old lands and alongside roads (their favorite haunts), 
as the brighter portions of their plumage are then hidden. Their 
upper surface, which is of a very assimilative color, blends with the 
bird’s surroundings to such an extent that to walk among a flock of 
them, and suddenly flush them from almost under one’s feet, is a 
common occurrence. 
To a certain extent these remarks also apply to the orange-breasted 
species (2. clarkei), affecting the banks of spruits, etc., and grassy 
slopes of damp localities; they are most inconspicuous little birds, 
notwithstanding the bright colors which relieve the olive brown of 
their upper parts. Perhaps the best-endowed member of the sub- 
family, so far as assimilative coloration is concerned, is the little bar- 
breasted weaver finch (Ortygospiza polyzona), which has only a 
white chin and a black throat to relieve the buff and brown tints of 
its feathering. 
Family FRINGILLID»®, 
Before I pass on to the next family I would like to briefly refer 
to the cape and rock buntings. The former (Fringillaria capensis) , 
a tame and pleasing little bird, was fairly common around Aliwal 
