NOVITATES ZOOLOGICAE XXV. 1918. 283 



and cheeks bright Naples yellow, mantle slightly paler, the feathers of the crown 

 and mantle having black centres. 



The feathers of the wings blackish brown with broad buS-coloured edges, 

 shghtly darker on the coverts. Rump similar to the mantle. Bill blackish 

 brown above, yellowish below. Feet grejash brown. 



As the bird becomes older the underside becomes paler, and the black centres 

 to the feathers on the upper surface become more distinct, giving the bird a 

 darker appearance. This second stage is not retained for any length of time, 

 the young soon moulting in traces of adult plumage, which in the case of the 

 males takes the form of bright yellow feathers on the breast. This second phase 

 is not brought about by moult, but by wearing of the feathers. 



Even as nestlings, these birds have the characteristic bills. 



This species was breeding in June and July 1912 at Kisumu, amongst the 

 grass and scrub. I found only one nest, containing two young. The nest 

 resembled somewhat that of Quelea cardinalis, being slung between grass stems 

 and composed of fine grass. Although not recognising the species at the time, 

 I took photographs of the nesthngs, which were just ready to leave the nest. 

 They are quite unmistakable. 



The locaUties other than those given by Shelley, from which I know speci- 

 mens to have been collected, having seen the actual fresh skins, are as follows : 

 Kisumu, West Elgon, Nairobi, Athi Plains, and Lamu. 



Whether these birds breed in colonies or not I cannot say, but it is probable 

 that they do, although I foimd only one nest at Kisumu. 



They certainly congregate in flocks of 20 to 200 or more, just after the 

 nesting season, for it was out of such flocks that I was able to procure my 

 specimens. From such flocks one may obtain birds in all stages of plumage 

 and conditions. 



When congregated into flocks these birds frequent the grass country, appar- 

 ently preferring the vicinity of water ; here they feed on various grass seeds and 

 spend a great deal of their time roosting in the dense papyrus and other rank 

 grasses. 



They are extremely pugnacious and quarrel amongst themselves and with 

 other birds. Specimens which I have aUve had to be removed from an aviary 

 containing other finches. 



I have not heard their song, Ijut the call when disturbed is a double note 

 like " tweet tweet," repeated frequently. 



They are extremely wild and difiicult to procure unless one is prepared to 

 get wet in wading through the swamp grasses and taking the birds as they come 

 over. 



27. *Linurgus elgonensis sp. nov. 1917 (Oriole Finch). 



cJ 3, 9 2. A very distinct species, description as follows : 

 Adult male : Entire head and throat black, the bliick of the throat extending 

 on to the upper breast. A yellow band separates the black of the head from 

 the mantle, which is uniform yeUow-oUve, as are also the upper tail-coverts and 

 tail, the feathers of the latter edged with brighter yellow. The whole of tlie 

 undersurface from crop to under tail-coverts bright yellow. Wings : coverts 

 yellow-olive, the tips of the coverts yellow, forming a bar across the wing ; 



