40 Mr. C. F. M. Swynnerton on the 
16. PyRoMELANA CAPENSIS XANTHOMELENA. Black - 
thighed Bishop-Bird. 
Much commoner than the preceding species, and plentiful 
in the long-grass country with open bush. 
17. CoLiopasseR arpENS. Red-collared Widow-Bird. 
This is the commonest species of the grass-veld, but the 
habits of our local form differ greatly from those of the 
Salisbury bird. Here it does not appear to be particularly 
partial to water, and the wariness noted by Mr. Marshall is 
chiefly conspicuous by its absence. I have found several ot 
its nests containing eggs in February, a fact which implies 
second broods, They are placed three feet or so from the 
ground in long grass or weeds, and are built entirely of grass, 
the finest portions, consisting of the heads stripped of their . 
seeds, forming the interior; the loose ends, being brought 
forward in a bunch over the top, act as a long fuzzy canopy 
to ward off the sun and rain. One specimen, which shews 
signs of inexperience or haste in its construction, practically 
lacks this canopy, and has a small additional entrance in the 
side. The eggs are three in number and glossy ; they vary 
from dull bluish white to pale greenish blue, spotted, blotched, 
and mottled all over with ashy grey and brown of different 
shades, and much resemble a certain type of ege of the 
English Tree-Sparrow. This Widow-Bird has here appro- 
priated the name applied in Natal to Coliopasser progne, 
which does not appear to occur in the district. The tail- 
feathers are much prized by the natives. 
18. Vipva princreatis. Pin-tailed Widow-Bird. 
This is our commonest Widow- Bird, next to Coliopasser 
ardens, and is very tame, frequently keeping about the vicinity 
of a homestead or entering a Kafir kraal when the women are 
grinding, and helping itself to the grain. Its habit of 
dancing in mid-air, all the time jerking its wings and tail 
and crying “swe swe swe,” is distinctly quaint; and on 
these occasions the children of a kraal will often gather 
round it and sing in chorus. 
I have also seen an apparently pure black Widow-Bird 
