68 BIRD ARCHITECTS 



lined with feathers, and lay four to six eggs of a pure 

 white colour. 



The Blue-breasted Waxbill (E. angolensis) has the 

 rump regions, face and under parts, except the thighs 

 and centre of abdomen, light blue. This bird is not 

 found south of the Orange Eiver valley. Mr. Harry 

 Neethling found fchem common at Parys in the Orange 

 Eiver Colony, during April, 1907. 



The most beautiful species of the Sub-family is the 

 Violet-eared Waxbill (E. granatina), which has the top 

 of the head, neck, breast and back chestnut-brown, the 

 sides of the face lilac, the throat black, and the rump and 

 tail-coverts bright blue. 



They do not congregate in large flocks like most of 

 the Waxbills, although the late Dr. Symonds, of Kroon- 

 stad, has recorded the fact of having occasionally seen 

 them in fair numbers. 



The Orange-breasted Waxbill (E. clarkei) is sometimes 

 called the Zebra Waxbill on account of the black and 

 yellow barring on the sides of the body. Chin and eye- 

 brow red ; below, yellowish-orange tinged on the chest 

 and vent with red. This bird was present at Modder- 

 fontein (Transvaal) in large flocks during the months of 

 February and March, 1907. 



The Swee Waxbill (E. dufresnii) is the best known 

 species in the South-eastern Province of Cape Colony, 

 from Uitenhage to Port Alfred. It is of an olive colour 

 above with a grey head, scarlet tail-coverts and a black 

 tail. 



All the Estrilda are seed-eaters, thus being true friends 

 of the agriculturist. 



