Occasional ^^otes. 43 



In a nest of Sikujra capends caffra built amono; reeds at 

 Pienaars Poort, and taken Nov. b, 1900, were three eggs of 

 that species and one which I take to be Clirysococcyx cupreus. 

 The Weavers are deep blue, unspotted, about 23"3 x 16*5 nun. 

 in size, while the Cuckoo's egg is very pale greenish blue, 

 sparsely spotted, chiefly at the big end, with fine brownish- 

 violet spots. It is elongated in sh;ipe and much smaller than 

 the Weavers, measuring 20 6 x 14 mm. 



I also possess three clutches of eggs of Thamnokea cinna- 

 momeiventris, all taken from Swallows' nests near Pienaars 

 River by Captain H. F. N. Jourdain, in Oct. and Nov. 1900. 

 In spite of a very full description of the plumage of the 

 parent birds, I regret to say that I did not recognize the 

 species till reading Mr. J. A. Bucknill's paper in the 'Journal' 

 of June 190G. Unluckily shooting was strictly prohibited 

 at the time, so that my brother was unable to send me a skin 

 with the eggs. 



My eggs are rather narrower than that figured in the 

 ' Journal ' (vol. ii. pi. i.). I append measurements of the 

 three clutches : — 



(Fresh) 

 (Fresh) 



(-20-2 X 18 

 I 2.y(i X 18 

 ( 2o-4 X 18 



r 25-2 X 18-2 mm. ) 

 \ 25-1 X 18-4 „ y 

 (26 X18-4 „ J 



Nov. 4, IflOO. (Nest inside Swallow'; 

 nest under ledge of rock.) 



25-2 X 18-2 mm. , Q^^_ 19, 1900. (Also under rock- 

 ledge.) 



123 X 18 mm. I Nov. 22, 1000. (In Swallow's nest 

 ( 22'5 X 17'2 „ ( under archway of culvert.) 

 This nest contained 3 eggs fresh (one broken). 



The zone as shown in your figure is only apparent in one 

 of my three sets ; in the other two the spots are almost 

 evenly distributed, and perhaps rather paler than in your 

 illustration. 



Yours very truly, 



Francis C. R. Jourdain. 



Clifton Vicarage, 



Asliburne, Derbyshire, 



August 8th, 1907. 



