observed near Machako's Station. ^77 



6. BuPHAGA ERYTHRORHYNCHA (Stanley); Sharpe, Cat. B. 

 Brit. Mus. xiii. p. 196 (1890) ; id. Ibis, 1891, p. 243. 



a, ? ad. Macliako's, April 24, 1896. 



Flocks common in the stations where there are cattle. If 

 an animal has a sore, the birds dig into it. I have known 

 donkeys killed by the constant irritation caused by their 

 pecking into the sore backs. 



7. BucHANGA AssiMiLis (Bcchst.) j Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. 

 Mus. iii. p. 247(1877). 



No. 72, ? . Machako's, Aug. 28, 1896. 



Very common between the coast and Kibweze. I only 

 saw one or two more specimens at Machako's, and none north 

 at Kikuku. 



8. Vidua principalis (L.) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 244. 

 No. 19, (? . Machako's, April 24, 1896. 



No. 19, S ■ „ Dec. 25, 1896. 



Flocks common in swamps and reed-beds. 



[The black spot on the chin is fully developed in the April 

 bird, but is scarcely visible in the December one, which has 

 plentiful traces of the winter-plumage still remaining. — 

 R.B. S.] 



9. Penthetria eques (Hartl.); Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 245. 

 No. 112, c?. Machako's, March 10, 1897. 



This species is very common. They are usually found in 

 reed-beds, but almost every native village is frequented by 

 at least one pair. 



10. Drepanoplectes jacksoni Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 246, 

 pi. V. 



a, c? ad. Machako's, April 30, 1896. 



The males of this species frequently form a playground 

 in the long grass on the plains. The playground made by 

 each bird is circular, about 2 feet in diameter; the grass is 

 beaten quite flat inside the ring, except one tuft in the very 

 centre. A flock of these birds playing has a curious eff"ect, 

 as they jump about 3 feet in the air aud drop down again 



SER. VII. VOL. IV. 2 r 



