of Birds in Southern Karrierun. 569 



(2) Examples of adult male Chalcomitra angolensis have 

 been noted which were moulting^ and had the old feathers 

 and the new of the same colour, except that the old were 

 dull and bleached-looking. Examples of adult male 

 Clnmjris chloropygia, also, are recorded as moulting, but 

 not changing in colour. 



(3) Adult males of Cyanomitra obscura always have the 

 yellow pectoral tufts. Many examples are recorded of 

 males with the testes small having tufts. They seem never 

 to be lost, but to grow paler when the plumage is old, and 

 to come out brighter after the moult. 



There seems to be the same irregularity about times of 

 moulting among the birds of this country as about the times 

 of breeding. Moulting-birds are found at all times of the 

 year. The moult seems to take place, also, without much 

 reference to the breeding-condition of the bird. While 

 doubtless the majority of birds found moulting have the 

 sex-organs small, a very great number of birds of widely 

 different kinds have been noted that were moulting while 

 breeding. But the moult in such cases seems to be gradual^ 

 only a few feathers being renewed at one time. 



General Conclusions. 



Most of the species in Southern Kamerun have no distinct 

 breeding-season. In many, all or nearly all the adult 

 individuals are engaged more or less in the activities of 

 reproduction at all times of the year. In others, some may 

 be found breeding, and some not, at all times. 



Certain species — as the Woodpeckers, Barbets, and Star- 

 lings — seem to be hindered in breeding by the rains, or for 

 some reason, at least, to prefer the dry season. They seem 

 to be mainly birds which breed in holes in trees. 



Other species — as the Colics and the Thrushes and their 

 allies — seem to prefer the rainy season. 



But certain Weavers, mainly those of the Spermestine 

 group, have a definite half of the year in which all their 

 breeding is done. Herein they are exceptional among the 

 birds of the country. 



2r 2 



