46 Mr. G. L. Bates — Field-Notes on the 



1350. INIelanopteryx nigerrimus. [Eyeles6_, or Evindi 

 N^a'a.] 



Sharpe, Ibis, 1908, p. 350. 



Ploceus nlgerriinus Reich. V. A. iii. p. 50. 



The note already published (' Ibis/ 1908, p. 350) gives in a 

 ieyv words nearly all that I can say of the habits of these birds. 

 The Bulu often call tliem by the same name as Hyphantornis 

 cucullatus, or " Nga'a," and for distinction " Evindi " {i. e. 

 " black ") " Nga''a." The reason for applying to two birds 

 of such different appearance the same name is evident when 

 one knows their hal)its. The two species not only build 

 nests exactly alike and in the same situations^ but often 

 mingle their nests together in the same colony. Moreover, 

 the females and the young males of the two are much alike, 

 and the t^vo species live on the same farinaceous food, and 

 have muscular stomachs or gizzards, while the other Weavers 

 of the same size found here live mostly on insects. While 

 the other Weavers build solitary nests, a pair in a place in 

 an inconspicuous situation, and never go about in flocks, the 

 present species, like Hyphantornis cucullatus, is seldom seen 

 except in flocks, and builds in colonics in conspicuous places 

 about villages. From seeing these birds in life it would 

 seem natural to me to put them and Hyphantornis in the 

 same genus, as the Bulu do, and not in the same genus with 

 Sycobrotus, &c. 



No. 2000. Imm., sex ? Bitye, R, Ja, Oct. 25, 1906. 

 Stomach full of insect bits. 



No. 2349. ? ad. Bitye, March 17, 1907. Small ova in 

 ovary. Stomach not muscular, containing black scales. 

 Iris whitish : feet dark (not quite black). Length of 

 culmen 18 ram. 



No. 2-411. (^ imm. Bitye, March 30, 1907. Stomach 

 (non-muscular) containing insect bits. Iris yellowish white. 



Nos. 2829, 2830. S ? ad. Bitye, Oct. 29, 1907. Both 

 shot by a boy " in ejak." The stomachs of both contained 

 insect bits, mainly grasshoppers. Both had the iris whitish, 

 and the feet dark or black. Length of culmen of male 

 18 mm., of female 16 mm. 



