380 Mr. T. E. Buckley on Birds observed 



the river-side being literally covered by their pendulous 

 nests^ which are very slightly constructed of grass. Their 

 eggs are blue speckled with dark brown. 



Hyphantornis nigrifrons, Cab. 



a, 6 . Matabili, September 29th, 1873. 

 Bill black; legs brown; iris reddish. 



b, $ . Tatti, October 10th, 1873. 



Bill and legs dark brown ; iris reddish brown. 



c, d, c? . Bamangwato, October 14th, 1873. 

 Bill and legs brown ; iris yellowish white. 

 e,f, d' BamangwatOj October 14, 1873. 

 Bill black ; legs brown ; iris yellowish white. 



These birds were very common through the Bamangwato 

 district, and when first met with had scarcely got their full 

 plumage. The difference in the colour of the bill and iris 

 may be attributed to difference of age. 



Hyphantornis capensis (Gm.) . 

 c? . Transvaal, December 16th, 1873. 

 Beak black ; legs light brown ; iris light straw-colour. 

 Apparently not very common, but generally to be seen 

 singly about water in the marshes. 



Plocepasser mahali. Smith. 



c? . Matabili land, September 8th, 1873. 



Beak horn-colour ; legs brown ; iris dark red. 



Eirst met with on the Limpopo. They build large nests of 

 dried yellow grass in the flat tops of the mimosas, several pairs 

 occupying the same tree. Most of these nests have a hole 

 right through, and seem only used for roosting in, as there 

 is no place for eggs ; it is the older-looking nests that contain 

 the eggs, which are pink, speckled with light brown ; these 

 nests have only one entrance. The male has a short but 

 sweet song. 



Sporopipes squamifrons (Smith), 

 cJ . Matabili ; September 29th, 1873. 

 Beak rose-colour ; legs greyish brown ; iris dark brown. 

 A common bird in the Bamangwato and Matabili countries. 



