240 Mr. R. Kemp on the Birds of 



Quite common at Rotifunk, but a rare bird at Bo. At 

 Rotifunk there exists a large colony of these birds, roosting 

 and nesting in mango-, lime-, and orange-trees in the enclosed 

 compound which contains our bungalows. They appear to be 

 very local. At Rotifunk they associate with Spermestes 

 cucullatus, but at Bo, which is further towards the 

 interior, they are replaced by S. bicolor in this association. 

 In two years of observation at Bo I have only once seen 

 this bird, when three were together on a previous year's 

 rice-farm. 



121. Spermestes cucullatus. 



Spermestes cucullatus Swains.; Reichen. Vog. Afrikas, iii. 

 ]>. 119 (1904) ; Shelley, B. Africa, iv. pt. 1, p. 167 (1905). 



A series of skins from Rotifunk and Bo. 



These are the most numerous Manikins and are resi- 

 dent here throughout the year. In the rainy season they 

 arc frequent companions of S. bicolor, Estrilcla Occident a lis, 

 E. sutflava, and the hens and young cocks of Vidua 

 principalis. The nests are more or less spherical, built 

 from the middle of August to February in small thick bushes, 

 bananas, lime-trees, the palm-leafed roofs of huts, or any 

 other convenient place, and usually contain five eggs of a 

 dirty white. During the rains the birds roost in their nests. 

 Oftentimes a nest will be packed with five or six of them, which 

 can be captured at night with a butterfly-net and a lantern. 



122. Spermestes bicolor. 



Spermestes bicolor (Fraser) ; Reichen. Vog. Afrikas, iii. 

 p. 151 (1904); Shelley, B. Africa, iv. pt. 1, p. 162 (1905). 



A series from Bo. Bill lavender-blue ; eyes, feet, and 

 claws black. 



Resident throughout the year and a frequent companion of 

 Spermestes cucullatus, spending the ,day in the rice-farm 

 clearings. At Rotifunk I never observed these Manikins, 

 whilst at Bo and its neighbourhood they are common. 



123. Hypargus schlegeli. 



Hypargos sclile<jeli (Sharpe) ; Reichen. Vog. Afrikas, iii. 



p. 159 (UOlJ. 



