— 166 — 



Quelea cardinalis (Hartl.). — Rchw. III. p. 112. 



2 (5(5 ad. 6. 5. Londiani. - 1 ^ ad. 17. 5. Soy. - 3 (5(5 ad. 18. 6., 6. 6.; 

 1 Q ad. 18. 5. Mount Elgon. 



This little Weaver was common on the grass plains, and 

 below the slopes of Elgon it occurred in large numbers. 



On the 6 th June I found about 20 nests of this race within 

 a very small area, but only three of them contained eggs. All 

 the nests were built about 30—70 cm. from the ground between 

 two strong grass-blades, and it was very interesting to see how 

 such a nest came into existence. The birds first stretched a 

 few blades of grass from stalk to stalk, the ends being twisted 

 several times around the latter, thus enclosing a space of about 

 5 cm., almost quadrangular in shape. Then a number of new 

 grass blades were interwoven with the former so that a firm 

 and safe connection was effected with the boundary lines. Other 

 blades were then woven into the four corners, which were 

 gradually rounded otf, and the original square opening became 

 circular, when the business of building the nest itself began. 

 Very diligently the birds interlaced the long blades of grass into 

 the upper edge of the firm structure, fastening them to the lower 

 one. Then one of the birds crept inside the loose and delicate 

 bag-shaped shell, arranged the accumulated material, fastened 

 shorter blades together and gave the future nest the form it 

 was to have. It was surprising to see how fast the work pro- 

 ceeded and in what a short time they succeeded in getting 

 everything arranged. The work of building was carried on 

 without ceasing so that in a day the artistic, little dwelling was 

 quite ready. It had then the form of a pouch about 8 — 10 cm. 

 high with firm, rather thin walls and with an entrance of about 

 4 cm. diameter. 



The same spot, where this race occurred commonly, was 

 also frequented by Vidua serena and Urobrachya ph. phoenica 

 in great numbers. 



The four male specimens are exactly like each other and 

 agree with Reichenow's description (op. cit.). The other two, 

 on the contrary, have the dark- brown feathers of the nape edged 

 with red. The extent of the red patch of the head also varies 

 a little. 



The female agrees also with Reichenow's description, 

 but has the superciliary stripe distinctly yellow. (Reich enow: 

 "braunlichweifs, oft orangerotlich verwaschen"). 



Wing, tarsus, 



d*cr 58—60 mm. 17—18 mm. 



9 58 mm. 16 mm. 



Irides brown-brownish red; bill in in cf dark-brown — 

 blackish, in 9 brownish grey (lower mandible lighter); legs pale 

 flesh-coloured — yellowish brown. 



