228 Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornitholoyy of Transvaal. 



ference of habit as observed in South-eastern and South- 

 western Africa at about the same latitude is^ I think^ remark- 

 able.— J. H. G.] 



3GG. HiKUNDO PUELLA, Tcmm. Lesser Striped-breasted 

 Swallow. 



Female, Rustenburg, 11th October. Iris greyish brown. 



This species is a miniature of H. cucullata, inbabiting the 

 warm bush-veldt country, apparently from the Rustenburg 

 district northwards. I found it breeding sparsely in small 

 caves (a nest in each cave) in the banks of a stream near tlie 

 village; the eggs are white; the nest much resembles that of 

 H. cucullata, but is smaller. 



[I have specimens of this Swallow collected by the late 

 Mr. E. C. Ruxton near the Lobombo mountains, on the 

 eastern frontier of Transvaal. — J. H. G.] 



367. Pholidauges VERREAUxi, Bocage. Verreaux's Glossy 

 Thrush. 



This species is very plentiful during the summer months 

 in the Rustenburg district, where it breeds freely in all suit- 

 able localities ; its nest, like that of the other Grackles, is 

 placed in the hole of a tree, and is lined with fre^^h green 

 soft leaves. 



Hyphantornis velatus (Vieill.). Black-veiled Weaver- 

 bird. 



The birds of this species that frequent the mountainous 

 parts of the Rustenburg district, where the country is wooded 

 and warm, appear to me to be very much smaller, and also 

 much brighter in plumage, as a rule, than those inhabiting 

 the more open plains of the same district and other open 

 parts of the Transvaal. Adapting their manners to circum- 

 stances, they hang their nests to low bushes and trees over- 

 hanging the streams, whereas in the open country their nests 

 are usually placed between two reeds in the swamps or on 

 the reedy banks of rivers, though even there the nests are 

 occasionally to be found hanging from the outer twigs of 

 trees. The eggs of the smaller race vary in colour just as 

 those ol: the larger and less gaudy birds. 



