Birds of Gazaland. 27 



[Helichrysum nitcns). It measured externally 3*25 inches in 

 diameter and 27 in depth, the cup itself being 2 inches 

 across and 1'7'5 deep. The bird always left the nest at once 

 on being approached, but returned immediately the intruder 

 commenced to move away. The eggs were pure white, with 

 small spots and thin short streaks of deep sepia, some of 

 them practically black. Three of my specimens measured 

 from 5*6 to 5 9 in the flesh, and one that was abnormally 

 small 5 inches only. Bill horn-brown, the gonys paler and 

 tinged with pink or yellow ; iris brown; feet dusky brown 

 or blackish. 



This species was previously supposed to range from the 

 Victoria Nyanza only to the Zambesi, where Kirk obtained 

 a specimen at Tete. 



41, Serinus marshalli. Marshall's Seed-eater. 

 Serinus marshalli, Shelley, B. Afr. iii. p. 201. 



Rh. A single specimen of this Canary has been secured 

 by Mr. Stanley at Helvetia, in the Mafus country ; it was 

 identified by Mr. W. L. Sclater. 



42. Serinus icterus. Eastern Yellow Seed-eater. 



E,h., P. One of our commoner birds. In September I 

 found it in some numbers at Maruma, where, with S. sharpei, 

 it was frequenting the coffee- and banana-plantations ; also 

 at Mount Umtereni and in other parts of Mafusi ; and, in 

 July, 1 found it going about in very large flocks both in the 

 upper Jihu and on the Kurumadzi. Here, when busily 

 feeding amongst the Leono lis -stems, individuals repeatedly 

 allowed me to approach to within six or seven feet, and even 

 then would move on only a few yards when disturbed. 

 Solitary birds may sometimes be seen sitting alone in the 

 higher branches of a tree, piping continually " Tsiyam- 

 tsiyam-tsi ! tsiyam-tsiyam-tsi ! '''' in a most monotonous 

 fashion. In common with S. sharpii, this species is very 

 destructive to the wheat- and rice-crops. In liie lowlands I 

 found it to be common at Chibabava and thence to Arucate, 

 as well as in the Katir clearings and other more or less open 



