2 Messrs. J. A. Bucknill and G. II. Giunvold on 



species wliich I have examiued, it was considered unnecessary 

 to figure more than one. [J. A. B.] 



They are of a bluish-green ground-colour, -with large and 

 small rather dark brownish-grey spots, with underlying 

 blotches and vor}- fine spots of light smoky-grey evenly dis- 

 tributed over the entire surface. They are of an ovate or 

 slightly elongated ovate form, and measure from 18"5 x 13'0 

 to 19-2 X 13-4 mm. [G. H. G.] 



Fig. 2. 

 Pytelia melba. (Southern lied-faced Weaver Finch.) 

 The eni'" from which the figure is taken was laid in con- 

 finement in the aviary of Mr. A. Duncan, of Johannesburg. 

 Mr. Duncan writes : " I had a pair of these birds in my aviary, 

 which is a very large one. 1 watched them building the 

 nest, which was situated about three feet from the ground 

 on a tree : it was domed, with a small opening in the side, 

 and was rather a rough structure of grass lined with feathers 

 and cowhair with which the birds were supplied. "When I 

 first closely examined the nest it contained three eggs : after 

 this I watched it daily and always found the hen sitting ; 

 after about a week I noticed the birds had deserted the nest, 

 which I found on examination to contain only one egg." 



The egg has been described by Jackson (' Ibis,' 1809, 

 ]). GOG) as being pure white ; taken near Kibwezi, British 

 East Africa. [J.A. B.] 



The egg is of a uniform creamy-white colour and slightly 

 glossed. It is of an elliptical-oval shape^ the larger end 

 being slightly attenuated. It measures 18*0 x 12"0 mm. 



[G.H.G.] 



Fig. 8. 



CoLiOPASSER ALBONOTATUS. (White-winged Widow Bird.) 



The esg figured is one of a clutch of three taken bv Mr. A. 



Duncan, of Johannesburg. Mr. Duncan writes : " This nest 



I found at Pienaar's River, about 40 miles north of Pretoria. 



It was situated in long grass close to the stream, and was 



attached to several stems about a fuot from the ground ; it is 



a verv open structure of grass lined with a few grass heads ; 



