570 Mr. B. Alexander — An Ornithological 



in young birds the underparts are lighter^ especially about 

 the face and throat, which are whitish. In immature males 

 the iris is red and the feet are brownish black. 



38. ESTRILDA SUBFLAVA (ViciU.) . 



First met with at Senna, and found, in company with the 

 former species, frequenting the small waste islands in the 

 river that are overgrown with tall grass, from which it is 

 difficult to drive them away. The chattering notes are by 

 no means unpleasant, and are far more musical than those of 

 E. astrild. In immature males the upper and under tail- 

 coverts are the first to assume the adult coloration, followed 

 by the feathers of the sides of the chest and flanks becoming 

 barred. 



Adult S • Ii'is red ; legs and feet brown. 



In young males the bill is black, while the iris is variable 

 from a straw-colour to a brown. 



39. Lagonosticta jamesoni Shelley. 



The British Museum possesses two specimens of this 

 species, an adult male and female from the Umvuli and 

 Tatin rivers, Mashonaland, collected by Mr. Jameson. We 

 found this bird by far the more scarce of the two Lagouo- 

 stictas we met with. 



Though observed on several occasions, especially at Zumbo, 

 we only managed to obtain a single specimen near the 

 Kafue river on January 12, out of a pair that frequented 

 long grass close to the bank. In life they are easily to be 

 distinguished from their close congener, L. brunneiceps , by 

 their larger size and stouter tails, while they generally keep 

 apart from the latter species and go in pairs. 



Adult S. Total length (measured in flesh) 3*9 inches. 

 Iris brown ; bill dark bluish slate ; legs and feet slate- 

 colour. 



40. Lagonosticta brunneiceps Sharpe. 



Frequents waste places, overgrown with long grass, near 

 the river. On August 16 we found a nest placed in a 

 ^mall bush close to the ground. The nest was domed, and 



