Birds of Alhany Dii'hion, Cape Colony. 77 



described his birds from individuals in ahuost mature 

 plumage. 



10. Hyphantornis velatus (Vieill). Masked Weaver 

 Bird. 



[//. mariqueusls, Shelley, 'Birds of Africa.'] 

 Capt. Shelley has given a key whereby he hopes it will be 

 fairly easy to recognise the geographical races, but the 

 single specimen in the collection is decidedly larger than the 

 bird found on Modderfontein, Transvaal, and has, in addition, 

 not nearly such a distinct chestnut shading on the forehead 

 which is so typical of the Transvaal specimens. We have 

 consequently no choice but to ascribe the specimen to the 

 typical " velatus," although this name is only applied by 

 Shelley to those birds inhabiting West Africa from C^ape 

 Town to Benguela. This question is a vexed one and much 

 yet remains to be done before we can be perfectly clear in the 

 division of this difficult genus. Mr. W. L. Sclater thinks 

 there are too many species of Hyphantornis and says there is 

 a regular gradation in size and plumage between the (/ape 

 and Transvaal specimens of velatus. This species does not occur 

 iu the immediate vicinity of Grahamstown, but is found near 

 Hylands. At the Kowie they are fairly plentiful, and build 

 early. 



11. Hyphantornis spilonotus (Vig.). Spotted-backed 

 Weaver Bird. 



Very common. This species prefers to build on the over- 

 hanging branches of trees near watercourses. We found 

 them breeding heavily in Featherstone Valley near Gra- 

 hamstown during the first week in January 1907. They are 

 nmch execrated by the local farmers on account of their 

 grain-eating propensities. 



12. *Hyphantornis SUBAUREUS (Smith). Yellow Weaver 

 Bird. 



Not common. Nests occasionally in the reeds at Blue 

 Krantz. 



13. Sit AGRA ocularia (Smith). Bottle Weaver. 

 Fairly common, and living in pairs, thus not gregarious in 



