5.66 Mv. B. Alexander — An Ornitholorpcal 



This is the southeramost locality yet recorded for this species, 

 hitherto ranging from Seuegambia to Angola across Equa- 

 torial Africa and the Lake countries. 



32. Penthetria albonotata (Cass.). 



We met with this Weaver at Zurabo on November 7, a small 

 flock consisting entirely of males in full winter plumage. Tiiey 

 frequented a stony bush-grown locality near the village, and 

 hardly a day passed without our finding them in the same 

 spot. It is a remarkable-looking AVeaver, the bar of white 

 on the wings as it takes to flight at once attracting attention. 

 Beyond Zumbo, on December 24, we observed for the first 

 time a small party of males in full breeding-dress. At 

 first it ^as hai-d to realize that they belonged to the same 

 species as those we had seen at Zumbo. For one thing, their 

 habits seemed to have altogether changed, as, instead of 

 pottering about among bushes and getting up almost at 

 one's feet, they resorted to extensive marshy reed-beds and 

 were as wild as Hawks, travelling with a strong flight and as 

 straight as a die for a considerable distance before alighting 

 upon the next group of reed-heads. Their presence in this 

 black velvety plumage came to us all the more as a surprise, 

 since from the time of leaving Zumbo we never came across 

 any individuals in the transitional state, as in the cases of 

 Pyromelana flammiceps and P. sundevalli. This struck us 

 as remarkable, giving the idea that the males must retire 

 and hide themselves away somewhere, to suddenly appear 

 one fine morning in all their splendour of breeding-costume. 

 Our six males in summer plumage vary considerably in 

 measurements. 



Total lengtli 



(measured in flesh). Wing. Tail, 



in. in. in. 



Adult S T-0 3-2 3-9 



„ 6-5 3-0 3-5 



„ 0-0 2-9 30 



Iris brown ; bill bluish horn-colour ; legs and feet dark 

 brown. 



