524. Major S. R. Clarke — Field-notes on 



32. Pyromelana oryx. (343.) 



Common at Ingogo and Bloemfontein, nesting in large 

 colonies in the reeds. At Bloemfontein there were also a 

 few nests in the young poplar trees. 



33. QUELEA QUELEA. (350.) 



Common in the Modder Bush in small flocks. In winter 

 the bill is crimson, the iris brown, and the legs arc salmon- 

 coloured. 



34. Ortygospiza polyzona. (389.) 

 Abundant at Ingogo. 



35. Sporopipes squamifrons. (452.) 



Very common in the Modder Bush in small flocks. 



36. ESTRILDA ASTRILD. (399.) 



Common at Ingogo in small flocks. 



37. ESTRILDA SUBFLAVA. (404.) 



Common along the rivers at Ingogo ; always in small 

 flocks. I never saw it elsewhere. G. V. Clarke informs me 

 that he found its eggs in the deserted nests of Pyromelana 

 oryx, and took three clutches, much incubated, in a small 

 reed- bed near Banker's Spruit. 



38. Plocepasser m ah all (468.) 



Common in thorn-scrub, especially near the Modder River. 

 The call-notes and cackling of the flocks are very pretty. 

 Iris reddish brown ; bill dark horn-coloured; feet pale greyish 

 flesh-coloured. 



39. Xanthophilus olivaceus. (531.) 



Sitagra cajiensis caffra Stark, Fauna of S. A., Birds, i. p. 70. 

 Abundant at Ingogo. 



40. Hyphantornis velatus. (549.) 



Bloemfontein. Abundant. In winter the iris is dark 

 brown, the bill horn-coloured (paler below), the legs horn- 

 coloured. In summer the iris of the male is golden orange, the 

 bill black, and the legs dark flesh-coloured. This bird changes 

 into summer- plumage about Sept. 1st. I have found eggs 

 on Sept. 7th. It nests in the willows over the water, but also 



