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They all lay white eggs in large, untidy nests built in 

 bushes, not far off the ground, or in low trees. 



The Bar-breasted Weaver-Finch (Ortygospiza poly- 

 zona) is brown above, grey-brown on the sides of the 

 body, and grey on the upper breast ; both the latter 

 regions are barred with black and white. The lower 

 chest is chestnut and the abdominal regions are huffish. 

 The throat is black and there is a white ring round the 

 eye. This little bird is a well-known species in the 

 Central Transvaal, where it may always be found in 

 flocks feeding on the grass and weed seeds in old lands, 

 or along grassy roadsides and the like. 



When disturbed they fly up with a curious metallic 

 cry which gives them their local name of " Tink-tinkie." 



It builds a dome-shaped nest under a tussock of grass, 

 and lays four or five pure white little eggs. 



The Social Weaver (Philetaerus socius) is a brown bird 

 with the feathers of the nape and upper back black on 

 the terminal portion, the edges being buff, giving these 

 regions a scaly appearance; forepart of face, chin and 

 upper part of throat, black. These birds are chiefly 

 remarkable for the hayrick-like nest they build. This 

 consists of a structure of grass resembling the thatched 

 roof of a Kaffir hut and is placed in a camel-thorn or 

 mimosa tree. The lower surface is honeycombed with 

 cavities, lined with feathers, which constitute the nesting 

 places. Dozens of pairs of birds nest under one roof. 

 They lay three or four eggs of a brownish-drab spotted 

 with brown and pale purplish. 



The Ked-headed Weaver-Finch (Amadina erythro- 

 cephala) is of an ashy-grey colour above (the males pos- 



