NOTES FROM NATAL. 299 



can really only be satisfactorily accounted for by assuming the 

 species to be polygamous. Butler inclines to this theory, from 

 having so constantly seen parties of what appeared to be female 

 birds following single males in nuptial plumage, and we can only 

 regret that we were not long enough in the country to observe 

 the nesting of these singular birds. Mr. E. B. Sharpe, in his 

 second edition of Layard's book, is of opinion that all the Viduas, 

 as well as the present species, are polygamous. Some more 

 observations are necessary, however, to confirm our suspicions on 

 this point. There is a marked difference in size between the 

 males and the females, the former being considerably the larger. 

 After a severe hailstorm in October, Butler found several of these 

 birds near Newcastle so injured by the hailstones that they were 

 unable to fly. He observed a cream-coloured specimen in one 

 flock, but failed to procure it. 



Vidua princijxdis (Linn.), Common or Dominican Widow- 

 bird. — Very abundant all over the colony ; found in flocks, both 

 in winter and summer plumage. Specimens were obtained from 

 June to December, the males assuming their long tail-feathers and 

 strikingly handsome breeding livery in September and October. 

 As with Chera progne, the long-tailed males were in small pro- 

 portion to the brown females and immature males, and we are 

 inclined to the belief that the species must also be polygamous. 

 We did not, however, meet with it actually nesting during our 

 stay in the colony. 



Estrelda astrild (Linn.), Common Waxbill. — Everywhere com- 

 mon, in small flocks, as a rule, though quite a cloud of them 

 occasionally congregate together. Nests found at Richmond Road 

 in December were tenanted by several birds ; they were built on 

 the ground in thick tufts of grass, composed entirely of fine 

 grasses, with a curiously placed entrance just above the ground- 

 level. The eggs were of a lovely pink colour before being blown. 

 From one nest examined by Reid five or six birds were seen to 

 fly. Are they also polygamous, like the Viduas ? Mr. R. B. 

 Sharpe appears to think this possible. 



Ortygospiza poly zona (Teinm.), Little Barred-breasted Finch. — 

 These pretty little birds are very common, both winter and 

 summer, round Newcastle, and as far south as Ladysmith, but 

 they do not seem to extend to the coast-line. For an excellent 

 account of this species we may refer ornithologists to the notes 



