of Birds from the Colony of Natal. iGo 



sight by frequently spreading the tail and showing its snow- 

 white feathers. They are also frequently to be found amongst 

 the ant-hills which are so abundant in the Transvaal. 



JuiDA BicoLOR (Gmel.). White-runiped Grakle. (No. 294, 

 Ibis, 1868, p. 46.) 



These birds excavate holes for their nests in the perpendicular 

 banks of the Vaal River, two or three feet from the surface of 

 the ground, and from two to four feet deep, horizontally. The 

 same holes appear to be used for successive seasons, being merely 

 pierced further each year. The nest is composed of coarse 

 grass, lined with wool, hair, and feathers ; the eggs are from 

 two to six in number. 



Chera progne (Bodd.). Great Widow-bird. (No. 137, 

 Ibis, 1861, p. 133.) 



The nest of this species is placed close to the ground, in a 

 tuft of long grass, to the blades and stalks of which it is 

 roughly woven or joined; it is rather a rough structure, 

 composed of fine grass and lined with the seed-ends; the 

 opening is at the side. The eggs are almost invariably four in 

 number. 



EuPLECTES suNDEVALLi, Bp. Sundcvall's Blshop-bird. (No. 

 267, Ibis, 1865, p. 269.) 



I have found these Finches breeding in companies in many 

 reedy vleys and pools, and also in great abundance in the 

 swamps of the Transvaal; their nests are very compact purse- 

 like structures, hung between two upright reeds, and composed 

 of the leaves of reeds torn into fine strips (easily mistaken for 

 grass), and woven together with great neatness and care. The 

 entrance is placed on the upperside of the nest, and always 

 facing the water, and is covered with a porch formed of the 

 flowering ends of grass, with which downy material the nest 

 is also lined. The eggs are generally from two to four in 

 number. 



This species assembles in immense flocks, both in winter and 

 in summer. In the latter the flocks appear to consist almost 

 entirely of males in their gaudy red and black dress ; and twenty 

 or thirty of these splendid birds may then be killed at a single 



