PLOCEID^ ESTRILDA 99 



Adult female. Less tinged with pink below and generally 

 duller in colour than the male. 



In autumn both sexes are less barred on the lower surface. 



Young. When newly hatched covered with bluish down ; when 

 fledged very like the adult, but with the bill black. 



Distribution. South Africa and Angola ; introduced into St. 

 Helena, Madagascar and Mauritius. Very abundant throughout 

 the greater part of Cape Colony, Natal, the Orange Free State and 

 the Transvaal, becoming less numerous in Matabili and Mashona 

 Lands. Andersson writes : "This pretty little species is common 

 in the southern districts of Damara Land, and in some parts of 

 Great Namaqua Land, as well as at Lake Ngami ; " Monteiro 

 describes it as being " very abundant in Angola, particularly to the 

 south." 



Habits. The " Eoodebec " may be found nearly everywhere in 

 South Africa, excepting only the higher mountains and the forest 

 districts, but is most abundant in somewhat open localities, such 

 as grass-pastures, fields in which plenty of weeds are growing, 

 gardens and the outskirts of towns and villages localities in 

 which an abundance of small seeds are to be picked up. In 

 autumn and winter this species sometimes congregates in immense 

 flocks, often mingled with other species of Weaver Birds and 

 Finches. This, like the other Waxbills, feeds chiefly on grass 

 seeds, but also on the seeds of various weeds, on millet, and other 

 small grain. In summer they vary their diet with small insects, 

 the young being chiefly fed with small larvae, spiders, and soft 

 insects. When feeding on the ground, and also when flying or 

 going to roost, these little birds keep up a constant shrill " chir- 

 rupping." The male in spring has a rather loud " warbling " song, 

 of six notes according to Dr. Butler. Great numbers of these 

 Waxbills are exported to Europe as cage-birds, chiefly from St. 

 Helena, where they have increased enormously since their intro- 

 duction many years ago ; to such an extent is this the case that 

 they are now known to dealers in cage-birds as St. Helena Wax- 

 bills or St. Helena Pheasants. Layard writes regarding this 

 species : " They breed in communities, and it is said that several 

 inhabit the same nest, laying and sitting in it promiscuously, and 

 sometimes three or four together. The nest is a large structure, 

 composed of straw, grasses, feathers, wool, paper, rags, &c. It is 

 often as large as a stable bucket, round, and with an entrance 

 in the side. The interior is a mass of feathers, and the eggs, 



