178 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



The female lays several eggs, of an oval form, and of 

 a greyish or pale bluish white, thickly blotched with 

 brown, especially at the thicker end. 



The irides are dark brown; the bill yellow horn- 

 colour, darkest above ; the legs and toes yellow-brown. 



214. Estrelda astrild (Linn.). Waxbill Finch. 



FrincjiUa astrild, Vieillot's Ois. Chant, pi. 13. 



Estrilda astrild, Strickland & Sclater, Birds Damar., Contr. Orn. 



1852, p. 150. 

 Estrelda astrild; Layard's Cat. No. 381. 



Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 402. 



Habropyga astrild, Finsch & Ilartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, p. 439. 

 Estrelda astrild, Sharpe's Cat. No. 620. 



This pretty little species is common in the southern 

 districts of Damara Land and in some parts of Great 

 Namaqua Land, as well as at Lake Ngami. It lives 

 in flocks, and is generally found upon the ground, 

 where it seeks its food, which consists of seeds, 

 insects, &c. 



The iris is brown, the bill bright red, the legs and feet 

 liver-brown. 



215. Estrelda erythronota (Vieill.). Black-cheeked Finch. 



Estrelda erythronota, Gray's Genera of Birds, pi. 90. fig. 1. 

 Estrelda lipiniana, Strickland & Sclater. Birds Damar., Contr. Orn. 



1852, p. 150. 



Estrelda erythronota, Layard's Cat. No. 389. 

 Sharpe's Cat. No. 613. 



This species is generally distributed over Damara 

 and Great Namaqua Land, and is also found at Lake 



