THE AFRICAN SILVER-BILL. 203 



members of this species breed in the nests of Weaver-birds, which they 

 suit to their requirements by lining them thickly with feathers, hair, 

 and wool ; they lay from three to five transparently white eggs, and 

 that their nesting-season is . from August to October. Vierthaler, 

 however, found a nest in January. It does not occur at an elevation 

 of more than five to six thousand feet above the sea-level, and is not 

 addicted to migration. It lives on the banks of streams, on islands, in 

 fields of niaize and cotton, on farm lands, and even by desert brooks, 

 but never in very considerable numbers. It is sometimes seen wandering 

 about on the ground, but more often in hedges, scrub, and dead thorn 

 trees. It also pairs in captivity with the Indian Silver-bill. 



These are all the facts that I have been able to collect respecting 

 its wild life (the last sentence being, of course, not included), and as 

 it has been so much less noticed by hunters and collectors, it is probable 

 that further investigations will not only greatly extend the period of 

 nidification of this species, but also its mode of nesting will be seen to 

 vary; for there is no reason why one species, in India, should breed 

 throughout the year, forming its nest in various ways ; and a closely 

 allied African species should be tied down to three or four months in 

 the year, and be incapable of forming independently a nest of its own. 

 Vierthaler's nest, found in January, proves conclusively that the season 

 is not limited to the autumnal months ; and, in confinement, we know 

 that the African Silver-bill is ready to build at any time, like his 

 Indian cousin. 



Dr. Russ says : " Dr. Karl Bolle first bred the little Silver- 

 pheasant, and described it in detail : ' The little birds love to sit in 

 pairs, or several closely huddled together on a branch, and the whole 

 company is truly inseparable. If divided, they call with anxious chirping, 

 at last in sharp and impatient sounding tones. Their short wings, indeed, 

 do not allow them in their native country to take a long, or particularly 

 high flight ; therefore, they slip through the scrub with the agility of a 

 mouse. On the ground they hop about with the tail directed obliquely 

 upwards. They always require a hollow in which to pass the night, 

 even when not nesting. The male alone is the architect of the nest ; 

 I have never seen the female bring in even a single straw ; it is 

 contented with sitting quietly in the nest, or in front of it, and 

 accepting the homage of its industrious husband in return. This 

 peculiarity places them, and some nearly allied Amadinas upon the 

 highest step among the Finch-like birds ; for the feeling of parental 

 love never becomes so strong and solicitous in the sex, which at other 

 times accustoms itself to accept matrimonial duties too readily. If the 



