320 Mr. A. L. Butler on the 



growing up through the thorns. It contained four white 



eggs. 



43. Estrilda rhodopyga Sundev. 



a. ?. Khartoum, Nov. 1, 1902. 



b. S . „ Nov. 12, 1902. 



During winter and spring this pretty little Waxbill is often 

 to be seen in the gardens at Khartoum, keeping in small 

 Hocks and feeding on grass-seeds. It is extremely tame, 

 and I believe that it would be possible to capture a whole 

 party under a casting-net. 



44. Lagonosticta brunneiceps Sharpc. 



a. $. Gedaref, May 1901. 



b. $ . Khartoum, Nov. 10, 1902. 



This pretty little Fire-Finch is one of the most charmingly 

 familiar and confiding birds in the country. It appears 

 to regard the " zeers " (large earthenware filters), which are 

 to be found in every house in the Soudan, as a kindly arrange- 

 ment of man for its particular delectation in a thirsty land, 

 and in return frequents his verandahs without a trace of fear. 

 It makes a charming aviary bird, and is from the first lively, 

 fearless, and apparently happy in captivity. Being so tame 

 it can be caught without the slightest trouble under a net 

 propped up over some millet-seed, and if a decoy-bird is used 

 the others will come crowding to it in a moment within a 

 yard of the fowler. So sociable is it that on one occasion a 

 cock settled on my arm while I was carrying a small cage 

 containing a hen ; and several times at night I have found 

 wild birds roosting on the cage in my verandah in which I 

 kept my tame specimens. 



It seems to prefer the vicinity of human habitations to the 

 lonely bush, and is common about most towns and villages 

 in the Soudan, especially where there is any cultivation of 

 lime-trees. 



In the east it is common at Gallabat, Gedaref, and 

 Kassala ; in the west at El Obeid ; and in the south I have 

 seen it as far as Meshra-el-Rek on the Bahr-el-Ghazal. 



