PLOCEID^E 



TEXTOB 



79 



Distribution. From Portuguese East Africa through the Trans- 

 vaal and Mashona arid Matabili Lands to Lake N 'garni, Damara 

 Land and BeDguela. 



It is not recorded from the district lying south of the Orange 

 Eiver or from Great Namaqua Land. 



Habits. Both Sir Andrew Smith, the discoverer of this large 

 Weaver Bird, and Dr. Livingstone, found it following the buffalo 

 for the sake of the numerous parasites that infest the hide of this 

 animal. 



Textor niger (head and wing). 



More often these birds search for their food on the ground not 

 far from trees or bushes, in which they seek refuge if disturbed. 

 They feed upon the larger insects, locusts, termites, beetles and 

 various larvae, occasionally upon seeds and berries. These are alert, 

 vivacious and noisy birds, fond of the society of their own species 

 and that of other birds. They feed in flocks and build in colonies, 

 their large collective nests being frequently surrounded by those of 

 Sparrows and other Weaver Birds. On the Limpopo River they 



