301 Capt. B. Alexander on the 



these nests of basketwork^ from which they hang, fanning 

 tlieir wings the whole time to and fro like birds with their 

 feet caught in meshwork. 



In June the young males are similar in plumage to the 

 adult females, but have the upper parts uniformly washed 

 with olive-yellow and the under parts with bright yellow ; 

 upper mandible brownish horn-coloured, lower mandible 

 paler; iris brown ; legs and feet flesh-coloured. By the end 

 of the year the feathers from the breast downwards become 

 white, turning to earthy brown on the sides of the chest and 

 flanks. The olive-yellow wash also disappears from the 

 brown feathers of the upper parts, with the exception of the 

 crown, which still remains olive-yellow. In the beginning of 

 February a direct moult is undergone. The scapulars and 

 rump are the first to assume the adult plumage, and the iris 

 becomes red. By the end of March the bill has become 

 entirely black; iris briglit orange: feathers of the crown, sides 

 of face, chin, and throat black ; collar deep chestnut ; mantle 

 and back particoloured ; remainder of the under parts 

 white, splashed with bright orange-yellow; legs and feet 

 light brown. 



About the middle of May the complete adult plumage has 

 been assumed. 



I do not think that the adult male assumes a winter 

 dress, since I have observed individuals throughout the year 

 in the same plumage as that of the breeding-season. 



63. ClNNAMOPTBRYX CASTANEOFUSCA (LcSS.). 



CinnaniojHeryx castaneofusca Sharpe, Cat. B. xiii. p. 472 

 (1890). 



Ploceus casfaneofuscns Reichen. J. f. O. 1891, p. 388, et 

 1897, p. 37 (Togoland). 



Pong. 



Breeds in May. The nests, constructed of coarse grass- 

 blades and lined with fresh leaves, are suspended underneath 

 the fronds of the palm-tree in damp situations. A large 

 number may be found together. Both male and female share 

 in the incubation. 



