Expedition to the Zambesi River, 565 



the Kafue river. This Sparrow possesses a loud musical 

 chirp. 



Adult. Total length (measured in flesh) 5 '9 inches, wing 

 3'o. Iris hazel; legs and feet slate; upper mandible brown, 

 lower light horn-colour. 



21. Passer diffusus (Smith). 



Common. Never observed in flocks, but scattered about 

 singly and in pairs. Breeds in January during the rainy 

 season. 



Adult ^ . Iris brown ; bill black ; legs and feet brown. 

 In old males the bill becomes black. 



25. Serinus icterus (Bonn, et Vieill.). 



Common along the Zambesi river, and found in small 

 flocks. 



26. Hypochera nigerrima Sharpe. 

 Moults in August. 



27. Hypochera amauroptera Sharpe. 



A single specimen, an adult male, at Zumbo, January 17, 

 1899. 



Total length (measured in flesh) 4*4 inches, wing 2" 6. 

 Iris black; legs, feet, and bill orange-red. 



28. Vidua principalis (Linn.). 



Breeds in large colonies, suspending their nests from the 

 topmost twigs o£ tall acacia-trees. They keep much to the 

 waste plots of land near villages. The males have a laboured 

 flight, as if they were weighed down by their long tails, 

 which they commence to assume towards the end of October. 

 In a flock the males predominate to a very large extent over 

 the females. 



29. Vidua paradisea (Linn.). 



Not nearly so common as the preceding species. 



30. Penthetria ardens (Bodd.). 



One adult female at Zumbo, December 12, 1898. 



31. Penthetria macrura (Linn.). 



An adult female, shot from a pair at Zumbo on January 18. 

 SER. VII. VOL. V. 2q 



