in Zuhdand, with Notes on its Birds. 411 



for the first time ; its tail is curiously arched and looks well 

 as it floats from tree to tree. It feeds largely on grass- 

 seeds. The little Waxbills were numerous here ; they are 

 called "Roibeks/' from the pretty red bills that most 

 of them have. The King o£ the Red-bills {Vidua princi- 

 palis) during the breeding-season has a long tail which 

 makes him very conspicuous as he flies with an undulating 

 motion over the ■ flats or sits perched by himself on the 

 topmost twig of a low^ tree whistling his few notes. We 

 found the nest and eggs of Estrelda incana ; it was built in 

 a small tree in the open land, and was very loosely made 

 of grass, lined with fowls' feathers. Tt contained six very 

 small white eggs. 



The Cape Canary [Serinus canicollis) was common here ; 

 it is well known throughout the country for its sprightly 

 habits and cheerful song. It makes a nice cage-bird, and 

 even breeds with the imported canary, producing a pretty 

 mule. The " Mealie-bird '' [Crithagra idera) abounds 

 everywhere where there are Kafir mealie-gardens, i. e. 

 patches of Indian corn, and when the grain begins to ripen 

 it has to be carefully tended by the children to protect it 

 from the depredations of this and other small birds. Its 

 nest is cup-shaped and placed in the fork of a low tree ; and 

 the eggs are white, slightly blotched with brown, and 

 tapering at one end. There were a few Wrynecks {lyna^ 

 pectoralis) in the open park-like country on these highlands. 

 This bird flies from tree to tree, making a harsh chattering 

 cry, which has sometimes been mistaken for that of a Hawk. 

 It has a peculiar habit of cocking up its tail as it creeps up 

 the trunks of the trees ; this is necessary to protect it from 

 being injured by contact with the rough bark, as, unlike that 

 of the Woodpecker, the tail is composed of ordinary soft 

 feathers. Its plumage reminds one of the Nightjar ; it has 

 red-brown eyes. 



The Yellow-breasted Lark {Macronyx striolatus) is 

 common everywhere. It is naturally very tame : boys knock 

 over numbers of them with their sticks, and grass-fires 

 are apt to destroy their nests. The Orange-throated Ma- 



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