Birds of Gazaland, Southern Rhodesia. 37 
3. Corvus capensis. Black Crow. 
This is even rarer than the preceding bird. I saw a pair 
in the neighbourhood of the Nyahodi River, in Northern 
Melsetter, in February, 1900. 
4. Buraaca arrtcana. Yellow-billed Oxpecker. 
Fairly plentiful in Mafusi and in other parts of the 
district, and particularly so, the natives say, in the Jihu, 
where buffaloes abound. Its harsh cry frequently betrays 
the presence of big game to the hunter. The flesh of this 
bird is never eaten by the natives, as is also the case with 
the Raven. 
5. Hypwantornis wNicricurs. Black-headed Weaver- 
bird. 
Common in some parts of the district, notably the 
Tchikamboge Valley, Mafusi, where the nests are plentiful, 
hanging in colonies from the twigs of the thorn-trees. They 
are not unlike those of H. velatus, with the hole below and 
no tunnel, but more untidy. The crops of those procured 
contained seeds only. 
6. Srracra ocunaria. Smith’s Weaver-bird. 
Lhave shot or seen this Weaver-bird on a few occasions in 
different parts of the district, including the Jihu, and have 
little doubt that it will prove to be fairly common. ‘Two 
specimens have been examined, the crops of which contained 
“Jady-birds”’ and other beetles—no seeds. The nest is 
entered by a tunnel which projects horizontally from one side. 
7, Srracra capensis. Cape Weaver-bird. 
This handsome Weaver-bird is plentiful both in grass- 
jungle and along che banks of streams, where its harsh cry 
may often be heard. Its nest, suspended at the end of a 
twig, strongly resembles that of the preceding species. Out 
of four crops examined, three contained sceds only and the 
fourth a large bug. Length in the flesh 7-1 inches. 
8. Sycosrotus stictiFRONS. Black-backed Weaver-bird. 
This is the common and, so far as I know, the only 
