Birds uf Gdzaland. 15 



Measurements: diameter of entrance 22 inelies, that uf 

 cup (externally, from side to side) 3'25 ; front to back, 

 including upper portion of tube, 5"25 ; depth of cup, external^ 

 exclusive of attachment, 47 inches. The nest proper varies 

 less in form and measurements liian in appearance, its degree 

 of neatness depending entirely on the fineness of the strips 

 employed. 



A second type of nest, of which I have taken two (shooting 

 the bird each time to make sure of its identity), though at 

 first sight very different in appearance, varies actually from 

 the more usual type rather in method of suspension than in 

 shape. It is entered by a horizontal tunnel which is sewn to 

 the side of the nest, and is thus equivalent to an ordinary 

 nest suspended by its side. The eggs are usually bluish 

 white, with blotches and spots, most plentiful about the 

 larger end, of light grey, each spot being often paler in the 

 centre than at the margins. Sometimes brown spots are 

 intermingled with the grey, but I have never found the red- 

 spotted variety described by Dr. Stark (Fauna of S. A. vol. i. 

 p. 68). They measure from 20 to 227 mm. in length, by 

 from 14 to 15 in breadth, the commonest combination being 

 20 by 15. The birds leave the nest at once when disturbed, 

 keeping low along the stream till out of sight, or disappearing 

 into the denser bush. They continue to take quite a pride 

 in the appearance of their home even after its completion, 

 and I have watched a sitting hen leave the tube and climb 

 about all over the nest, re-arranging a strip here or pushing 

 in a loose end there. 



A male in my collection measured 68 inches in the flesh ; 

 its bill was black, its feet were bluish grey, and its irides 

 light yellow. Two stomachs examined contained only insects 

 (beetles and spiders) . 



15. Sycobrotus stictifkons. Spot-headed Weaver-bird. 



Rh., P. To be found wherever the bush is sufficiently 

 dense, in high veld or low ; I have myself noted it in the 

 small forest-patches of the Chikamboge Valley, in the 

 jNIadanda forests, and near Chibabava, where it was breeding 



