— 172 — 



9 females, out of a single fiock that was flying past. Gurney 

 (Ibis 1909 p. 489) mentions that he has seen flocks of 40—50 

 females, accompanied by only 7 — 8 males, and the same writer 

 gives a good description of the displays of the males. 



In the beautiful series of 18 males from various localities 

 there are no noteworthy diff'erences. One or two have on the 

 belly a few brownish feathers in the otherwise black plumage, 

 but these are only reminiscences of the juvenile dress. 



Wing, tarsus, tail, 



89—92 mm. 29 mm. 165—240 mm. cfcT Ngong, Naiwasha. 

 87— 93 mm. 29— 39 mm. 155— 220 mm. cfcf Londiani, Eldoret. 



The females also resemble each other very closely. The 

 dark streaks on the lore -neck and along the flanks are more 

 strongly pronounced and closer in some than in others. 

 Wing, tarsus, 



82—85 mm. 82—29 mm. 99 Ngong. 



81—89 mm. 29—30 mm. 99 Eldoret. 



Irides dark -brown; bill of cf bluish grey, upper mandible 

 with blackish base, tip and edge of lower mandible light, in 9 

 greyish brown — yellowish-brown; legs of cT black, in 9 greyish 

 brown. 



Amadina fasciata alexandri Neum. — Bull. Br. Ornithol. Club, 

 vol. XXIII, 1908, p. 43-44. 



1 (5 ad. 19. 8. Kisumu. 



This race was found in the under-growth and brushwood 

 bordering the shores of the Gulf of Kavirondo, in the company 

 of other Weaver-Birds. 



Wing 67 mm. tarsus 13 mm. 



Irides light brown; bill greyish blue; legs dirty-yellow. 



Spermestes cucuUaia cucuUaia Sw. — Rchw. III. p. 149. 



1 (5 ad. 10. 4. Nairobi. - 3 (5(5 ad. 14. 4. Kiambu. - 1 (5 ad. 19. 8. 



Kisumu. 



Occurred in large flocks, about 20—30 in number, on the 

 outskirts of the forests, where Solanum and other entangling 

 plants formed dense thickets. 



Of the three from Kiambu, 14. 4., which were shot out of 

 one flock, two have distinct green -glossy spots on the flanks, 

 while the third all but lacks these spots. On the parts where 

 they should be found one can, however discern darker patches, 

 which would probably assume this green-glossy colour later one. 

 I therefore place this individual — in spite of this slight dif- 

 ference — under the above race. 



