108 PLOCEIDJ3 ORTYGOSPIZA 



migrant as far west as the George District, and at Heidelberg and 

 Swellendam in Western Cape Colony. It becomes more common 

 to the east of Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown. In Natal and the 

 Transvaal it is a resident, and extends as far north as the Zambesi 

 River, ranging into Nyasaland, where Mr. Whyte obtained examples 

 on the Milan] i Plateau in November. It has not been recorded 

 from the West Coast or from Great Namaqua or Damara Lands. 



Habits. In Natal this pretty little species is, when not breeding, 

 usually met with in small parties of ten or twelve, feeding on the 

 ground on grass-seeds. When searching for food they keep close 

 together, and constantly utter a sharp, chirping call-note. If dis- 

 turbed they rise simultaneously with a prolonged "chirrup" and fly 

 for a short distance to settle again on the ground. This Waxbill 

 breeds in Natal not uncommonly, but not, so far as I have observed, 

 near the coast. Not far from Howick, at a height of about 3,000 

 feet, I have met with their nests in some numbers. Unlike many 

 of the Waxbills, they build in tall bushes and young trees, at a 

 height of from six to ten feet. The nests are rough-looking, oval 

 structures, with an entrance hole on one side, constructed of fine 

 dry grass. The flowering ends of the grass being woven together, 

 the stiff stalks are left projecting in all directions. The interior is 

 lined with grass tops, down, and feathers. The eggs are very small, 

 pure white in colour, and four or five in number. When first 

 hatched the young are fed on small caterpillars. 



Genus IV. ORTYGOSPIZA. 



Type. 

 Ortygospiza, Sundev. (Efv. K. Vet.-Akad. 



Stockh. 1850 O. polyzona, p. 109. 



Bill moderate and pointed, the upper mandible much deeper 

 than the lower ; the culmen arched and swollen at the base ; the 

 commissure festooned near the base. Nostrils nearly concealed by 

 nasal plumes. Wing longer than the tail. Tail short and square. 

 Tarsi scutellated anteriorly. Plumage : flanks and sides of body 

 brown barred with black and white. Size small ; wing about 2-10. 



Established by Sundevall for the reception of two African 

 Weaver Finches, of which one is fairly common in many parts of 

 South Africa. They feed much on the ground on small seeds ; are 

 generally, when not breeding, in flocks, and have much the habits 

 of the Waxbills. They build loosely constructed domed nests in 

 tufts of grass, of dry grass lined with feathers, and lay white eggs. 



