578 Dr. S. L. Iliudc on Birds 



into the circle, each bii"d jumping from five to ten times in 

 a minute. 



11. Ploceipasser MELANORHYNCHUS Riipp. ; Shavpc, Ibis, 

 1891, p. 250. 



No. 45, ? . Machako's, May 19, 1896. 



Common in the neighbourhood of Machako's Station ; it 

 probably breeds there. 



12. Hyphantornis nigriceps Layard; Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, 

 p. 253. 



No. 22, S' Machako's, May 17, 189G. 

 Breeds in the mimosa-trees. 



13. Hyphantornis spekii Heugl. ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, 

 p. 254. 



No. 22«, S' Machako's, April 30, 1896. 

 No. 70, ? . „ Aug. 17, 1896. 



No. 22a, S' „ Nov. 3, 1896. 



Nesting here ; very common in flocks. 



All these Weaver-birds will build a nest in about a day, 

 but a pair will often build four or five before they get one 

 sufficiently well bound to the branch to support their weight, 

 and in consequence, where 20 or 30 of these birds are building 

 in a single tree, the ground beneath the tree is strewn with 

 nests in every stage of completeness. I have counted as 

 many as 243 nests lying on the ground beneath a single tree. 



14. Heterhyphantes REicHENOwi (Fischer); Sharpe, Cat. 

 B. xiii. p. 418; id. Ibis, 1891, p. 252. 



No. 66, S . Machako's, Aug. 10, 1896. 



15. Passer ruficinctus Fischer &Ileichen.; Sharpe, Ibis, 

 1891, p. 256. 



No. 47, S • Machako's, May 20, 1896. 

 No. 95, S • „ Nov. 11, 1896. 



Large niimbers breed here in May and June. It is 

 common in the station. Builds sometimes in the eaves of the 

 houses, but more often among the fruit of a banana-bunch or 

 in the head of the wild banana. This banana is cultivated 

 by the Wakamba (natives) for the fibre which it yields. 



