206 
Mr. F. A. Barratt's Notes on the Birds 
71. Lamprocolius phcenicopterus. 
This bird I met with in several parts of the Transvaal and 
Free State. They congregate in vast flocks, and keep up a 
harsh chattering noise. I have also shot them near Pretoria, 
Rustenberg, Potchefstroom, and near Bloemfontein; and I 
noticed them on my farm on the Chaumna, British Kaffraria, 
where they frequented the barns and buildings, continually 
flying to and fro, like English Starlings. 
72. Pholidauges verreauxi. 
Specimens were procured by me near Rustenberg, asso¬ 
ciated with the Amydrus. I also saw odd ones here and 
there about the old fruit-gardens. 
73. Hyphantornis capensis. 
Procured this bird at Potchefstroom and adjoining district. 
They build their nests in the trees, and seem to be contin¬ 
ually on the move, always appearing too busy to notice the 
presence of a stranger. 
74. Ploceus oryx. 
The Red “ Caffre-Fink ” breeds in reeds near gardens, and 
is plentiful about Bloemfontein, in the Free State, thence to 
the Yaal river, Kronstadt, near Rustenberg, Pretoria, and 
Potchefstroom. It is a very local bird; and I found it in only 
a few places along the Yaal near the Diamond-fields; but I 
did not observe it flying everywhere, like Chera progne . 
75. Euplectes taha. 
Found this bird flying about the reeds which skirt the 
ditches &c. I shot my first specimen near the Modder river, 
near Bloemfontein. It is very plentiful at Potchefstroom 
about the skirts of the vleys or swamps adjoining the town. 
I have got them all the way up from the Modder river to 
Potchefstroom, near Bloemfontein, Rustenberg, Pretoria, 
Nazareth; and I think I saw a few near the Gold-fields. 
76. Euplectes capensis. 
Common in the Free State and Transvaal. I have found 
them breeding near Kronstadt, in the Free State, also about 
Potchefstroom and elsewhere in the Transvaal, where they 
