during a journey to the Matabili Country. 381 
Euplectes capensis (L.). 
6 . Drakenberg, Natal, December 19th, 1873. 
Beak black ; legs dark brown ; iris dark hazel. 
A common bird from Natal to the Matabili. In the young 
male the beak is brown and the legs of a lighter colour; but 
this is most likely the winter colouring as well; the feathers 
are then almost uniformly of a brown colour, the rump and 
shoulders of the wing bearing traces of yellow. 
Euplectes oryx (L.). 
cf. Transvaal, December 16, 1873. 
Beak black; legs light brown; iris dark hazel. 
A very common species in the Transvaal, breeding in large 
colonies among the reeds in the a vleys,^ where there was always 
water between them and the bank. It was a pretty sight to see 
the splendidly coloured males flying in every direction; on 
being disturbed they generally took a long turn over the land 
and then returned to their nests. The latter are constructed of 
dried grass, domed over, with a hole at the side; the eggs, 
three in number, are blue spotted slightly with brown. 
Vidua principalis (L.). 
a , . Natal, December 27th, 1873. 
Beak crimson; legs greyish black; iris dark hazel. 
b, $. Drakenberg, December 20th, 1873. 
I do not remember meeting this Whydah bird out of Natal; 
it was common in the latter country. 
Vidua regia, L. 
a } $. Limpopo, Nov. 15, 1873. 
Beak pink; legs pinkish brown; iris dark hazel. 
Chera progne (Bodd.). 
One of the commonest, and at the same time the most 
noticeable Weaverbird in the Transvaal, north of which 
country we did not meet with it. Their long tails form an 
incumbrance in a high gale of wind, so that they may almost 
be run down. We found the males very common during the 
breeding-season, but never succeeded in securing a female. 
The natives call this bird Sac-a-bula, and prize its long tail- 
feathers as an ornament for their hair. 
