168 THE FINCHES AND WEAVER lUKDS OF THE SUDAN 



Bill black, as in the last, to which it is very similar, differing principally in having 

 the back of the crown streaked with blackish, and the whole throat pure crimson 

 with no blackish chin. It has also a smaller bill. Emin found it numerous at 

 Lado, and I have a male from Mongalla. It apparently occurs only quite in the 

 south of the Sudan. 



Sub-family : E^trildinif. 

 Genus: Aiuadina 



37. Aiuadina fasciata, Gm. (Cut-throat Finch, or Ribbon Waxbill). Length, 5'1 

 inches; wing, 2'6. Pale rufous-brown, with close angular black bars, the male with 

 a crimson band across the throat. Common and widely distributed in moderate 

 numbers. I have it from Gallabat, the upper Atbara and Setit, the Blue Nile, and 

 Kordofan. Heuglin obtained it on the White Nile, and Emin at Lado. In the 

 heat of the day they drink in flocks at the mud "hods" made by Arabs at their 

 wells to water cattle. 



Genus : Philetairns 



38. I'hiletairus arnaudi, Bp. (Arnaud's Sociable Weaver). Length, 4-7 inches ; 

 wing, 2' 6. Pale brown, with some black markings on wings and tail, and the crown 

 of the head whitish-grey. These Weavers occur only in the south of the Sudan. 

 I have specimens from Mongalla and Eejaf. They are extremely sociable in their 

 breeding habits, crowding their nests, which are made of coarse grass with a 

 hanging entrance tunnel, into a mass on the same bough. The birds of an allied 

 South African species work together to make a large roof-like shelter for the common 

 good, to the under side of which their nests are attached in a mass. I am not 

 aware if the same habit has been recorded in our bird. 



Genus : Urolonclia 



39. In-oloncha canians, Gm. (Silverbill). Length, 4-3 inches ; wing, 2-1. Bill lead 

 colour. Upper parts pale brown, with narrow indistinct darker bars. Feathers of 

 the forehead and throat rather scale-like. Rump and tail blackish-brown. Underparts 

 whitish. The Silverbill is common and widely distributed, in some localities 

 occurring in very large numbers. On the East I have it from Talgwareb station, 

 but have not noted it on the Eed Sea coast ; it occurs right across the country 

 from Eoseires to Western Kordofan, ranging north of Shendi, and south along the 

 White Nile. At Bara, in Kordofan, in April, 1904, I saw it in thousands in company 

 with the Yellow Sparrow, and I think it is to some extent mischievous to crops. 

 I have found it nesting at almost any time of the year, in thatched roofs, palm 

 trees, and bushes. 



Genus : Ortyyospiza 



40. Orti/ijoKpiza atn'collis, Vieill. (Bar-breasted Manikin). Length, 3'6 inches ; 

 wing, 2. Above brown. Forehead, cheeks, and tlii-oat black. Centre of chest 

 rufous. Crop and sides boldly barred with black and white. A tiny lineh obtained 

 by Emin at Eejaf, and by von Heuglin on the Bahr-El-Ghazal. 



Genus ; Spitrmestes 



41. Spermentes cucullatus, Swains. (Bronze Manikin). Length, 3-7 inches; 

 wing, 19. Above brown, the rump barred with grey. Crown of head and a patch 

 on each shoulder bronze-green. Throat bronze-brown. Centre of breast white ; 

 sides barred brown and white, with a patch of bronze-green on each. Another 

 very diminutive grass finch. I have it from Tembura and from between W"au and 

 Chak Chak, which are, I think, the most northern records for it. 



