Coast specimens are apparently always rather small, and have occasionally, 

 but not always, white bases to the feathers of the liiiul neck ; wlien these 

 feathers are worn, a white collar at the back of the neck may sometimes be 

 traced. One of these specimens formed the type of Si/cnliiu.s alhlnucJui. 

 )0cagc. 



Dr. A. Reichenow, Avho has devoted much time and lal)our in working 

 out the Weaver-birds of the genus Ploeeus, which he published in the 

 ' Zoologische Jahrbiicher ' for 1886, tells us that the Black Weaver-bird 

 '"inhabits Lower Guinea from the Cameroon Ri\'er to Angola. In Upper 

 Guinea its appearance seems to be only sporadic, until lately it has only 

 been collected by Ussher in Denkera on the Gold Coast. In Lower 

 Guinea, however, from the Cameroon onwards, it is very common, in some 

 places the commonest Weaver-bird. Its special resorts are : the Cameroon 

 wastes, Wuri, the Cameroon Mountains to the heiglit of ;5,00() feet. In its 

 habits it very much resembles Fl. cucuUatus, and where both species are 

 found near together, it forms the constant, faithful companion (.)f the 

 latter. The nests of both species often hang mixed together on the same 

 cocoa-nut palm, and not the slightest jealousy or unfriendliness can be 

 detected between tliem. PI. nigerriimis is fond of building on palms in the 

 negro villages, or in plantations of Bananas, where it hangs its nests on the 

 tips of Banana-leaves at no great height from the ground ; however, where 

 opportunity offers on the branches of trees overhanging the banks of rivers, 

 and alwavs in colonies of considerable size. The rounded nest is composed 

 of fresh, wide grasses, runs up at the top into a point, by which it is 

 fastened to the tree. The enti'ance has no tube-like appendage. The 

 width always amounts to 12 cent., the length to 15 cent., of which 

 six are covered by the mouth of the entrance. Tlie well of the nest is 

 frequently lined with Howcring maize stalks. As a rule the nests hang 

 quite independently on separate branches ; still it may happen that a 

 neighbouring shoot is twined in between. In large colonies two or three 

 nests are often found close together, fastened on to the same branch, which 

 is then likewise entwined by the building materials. The eggs are bright 

 blue, and vary in length from 22 to 25 nm]., in breadth from 15 to 

 Ki'o mm. Two or three eiiKs form a clutch."' 



