86 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST 



It has a very sweet and softly modulated little 

 song. 



A songster of no mean merit is the Streaky-headed 

 Seedeater (Poliospiza gularis), a dull brown coloured 

 bird with grey stripes on the head. It is very common 

 at Modderfontein, and Irene, Transvaal, where they may 

 be seen drinking in flocks at eventide. 



Amongst the Ploceidce, Alaudidce and Nectarinidce, 

 there are songsters of various qualifications, but we will 

 deal with them under other headings. 



SPARROWS. 



The Sparrows are not a large group in South Africa ; 

 although useful at times, they are often very destruc- 

 tive. First in order of classification comes the Diamond 

 Sparrow (Petronia petronella) bearing the most inap- 

 priate name of " Kock " Sparrow in the text-books. It 

 is fairly common in the Albany District, assembling in 

 small flocks amongst the high trees around Grahams- 

 town during the winter months. In summer it resorts 

 to the high Bushveld where it constantly affects the 

 branches of decaying trees. As already stated, the name 

 is a misnomer, as they are true arboreal birds, seldom 

 alighting on the ground except when tempted by grain, 

 which they readily eat, although principally insectivorous 

 birds. We have so far only noticed it nesting in hollow 

 trees or posts, and have not found or heard of an 

 authentic case of a nest being found in a hole in a 

 krantz, or in a wall. 



It devours a fairly large quantity of insects and weed 

 seeds, thus doing a certain amount of good to agriculture. 



The Diamond Sparrow is a drabish-brown bird with a 



