PLOCEID^ 



QUELEA 



121 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Back brownish, the feathers mottled with dark 



centres. Tail very short and square. The males 



with no very marked change of plumage in summer Quelea, p. 121. 



b. In adult males in summer the back not mottled. 



rt 1 . The males in breeding plumage velvety-black and 

 yellow or scarlet, with neck frills ; tail short and 

 square 



fe 1 . The males in breeding plumage velvety-black, the 

 lesser wing-coverts orange or scarlet ; with neck- 

 frills. Tail short and much graduated and 

 rounded 



c 1 . The males in breeding plumage black; the lesser 

 wing-coverts yellow, orange-scarlet, or black. 

 Tail much lengthened and rounded at the end... 



d l . The males in breeding plumage without yellow or 

 red in the plumage, and without bright lesser 

 wing-coverts. Tail square, or square with the 

 exception of the four centre feathers. 



Pyromelana, p. 125. 



Urobrachya, p. 133. 

 Coliopasser, p. 136. 



2 . Tail square, with the exception of the four 

 centre feathers which are much elongated ... 



6 2 . Tail square, without elongated feathers. Entire 

 plumage glossy steel or purple black 



Vidua, p. 143. 

 Hypochera, p. 152. 



Genus I. QUELEA. 



Type. 



Quelea, Beichb. Syst. Nat. pi. 76, fig. 1 (1850) Q. quelea, p. 122. 



Bill strong, cone-shaped ; the culmen gently curved from base 

 to tip ; the cutting edges of both mandibles sinuated and with a 

 deflected angle towards the base. Nostrils nearly concealed by 

 nasal plumes. Tail short (about three-fifths the length of wing), 

 square at the end ; the outstretched feet reaching its end. Plum- 

 age : in winter male and female alike brownish, streaked above and 

 on the flanks with dusky ; in summer the old males differ con- 

 siderably from the females in having the crown, neck and under 

 surface rosy pink. Bill bright red. 



About six species and sub species are included in the genus, all 

 confined to Africa ; one species and a sub species are found in 

 South Africa. 



The Eed-billed Weavers feed on the ground in flocks, chiefly on 

 small seeds. They build domed nests of grass in bushes and lay 

 white eggs. 



