Mr. T. Ayres on Trans- Vual Omithuloyy. 255 



male in winter dress. It is the only specimen I have seen from 

 any locality, except Damara Land, where this species appears 

 entirely to take the place of its larger congener H. mariquensis, 

 being always intermediate in size between H. mariquensis and 

 H. cabanisi. The males of H. velatus, when in breeding-dress, 

 are somewhat brighter in the yellow tints of their plumage than 

 those of H. mariquensis ; in other respects they are similar. — 

 J. H. G.] 



110. (L. 354.) Textor erythrorhynchus, Smith. Red- 

 billed Black Weaverbird. 



Female : — Total length 9| inches. 



This Finch inhabits the bush, and is not, so far as I know, 

 ever found in the open country ; we met with but few of them, 

 and then always in company with the little blue Hoopoe [Irrisor 

 cyanomelas) in twos and threes. The stomach of the bird sent 

 contained insects ; but berries, seeds, and fruits were not to be 

 had at that season, our trip being in midwinter. 



111. (L. 369.) EuPLECTEs ORYX, Swains. Greater Bishop 

 Weaverbird. 



[In comparing specimens sent from Trans-Vaal by Mr. Ayres 

 with examples from the Cape, they appeared to be identical, and 

 therefore referable to the larger race, E. oryx, instead of to the 

 smaller, E. sundevalli, to which I assigned them (Ibis, 1868, 

 p. 465). 



I think that Mr. Layard is probably correct in treating these 

 two races, in his work on the Birds of South Africa, p. 185, as 

 not specifically distinct. — J. H. G.] 



112. (L. 370.) Ploceus sanguinirostris (Linn.). San- 

 guine-billed Weaverbird. 



Total length 4| inches, wing 2|^, bill ^^,, tarsus |f, tail 14; 

 iris greyish hazel, eyelids scarlet, tarsi and feet pale rufous, 

 bill dark glossy pink. 



These birds, which vary very much in plumage, are tolerably 

 common in Potchefstroom and the neighbourhood in summer, 

 associating freely with the flights of the preceding species, which 



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