Expedition to the Zambesi River. 575 



eacL bird being in the company of another, so much so that 

 they at first impressed us as being male and female till "we 

 procured specimens. It is quite possible that these Weavers 

 are polygamous. 



Adult J . Bill black; iris orange-red; legs and feet reddish 

 brown. 



Adult ? . Bill brownish horn-colour ; iris orange-yellow. 



49. Hyphantornis cabanisi Peters. 



Adult (^ . Total length (measured in flesh) 5*2 inches. 

 Iris lemon-yellow ; legs and feet slate. 



50. Hyphantornis nigriceps Layard. 



The commonest of the Yellow Weavers^ especially from 

 Tete downward, consorting with other Weavers and Finches 

 on waste land near the river. They breed in large colonies, 

 hanging their nests to the fish-cane that fringes the water's 

 edge. Such a spot presents an animated appearance in the 

 breeding-season, these bright-coloured birds rushing back- 

 ward and forward among the deep green reeds, intent 

 upon their building operations, while the brown nests of tlie 

 previous season present a notable contrast to those newly 

 made, and are hai'dly distinguishable in colour from the 

 reeds. 



We obtained a fine series of this species in several stages 

 of plumage. Like the adult females of H. shelleyi, the 

 immature females become yellow on the luiderparts, while 

 young males resemble in plumage the immature female. 



Adult. Bill black ; iris red ; legs and feet brown. 



In the immature birds the iris is hazel ; upper mandible 

 brown, lower light horn-colour. 



51. Oriolus auratus Yieill. 



Scattered iudiTiduals observed for tlie first time at Zumbo 

 on December 12, frequenting the thick woods, and in company 

 now and again with young bii'ds. The adults were then in 

 a moulting condition and were difficult to approach, their 

 clear whistling note being more often heard. : . 



