Pyromelana oryx and its Nesting Parasites. 23 



for two of the eggs hud far advanced in incubation and con- 

 tained well-developed zygodactylous embryos. 



But the " blowing ^' did not only " prove " the eggs of th(^ 

 Cuckoo : it tended to throw a little more light on the breeding- 

 habits of Qiielea qiielea. 



Scores of these birds were flying about and resting on the 

 reeds in the colony, and I picked up a dead male beneath one 

 of the nests. A large number of asparagus and other bushes, 

 besides a small plantation of Spanish reeds in the neighbour- 

 hood, were literally covered with masses of their nest-work. 

 On this, as on many previous occasions, I examined several 

 of these so-called courting-nests, but I have never (bund one 

 lined, or giving any indication that they are used for breeding 

 purposes. 



Knowing this, and arguing from the analogy cf another ' 

 Finch (Vidua principalis : vide 'Journal,' vol. iii. No. 1), it 

 is not difficult to suppose that Q. quelea is parasitic in its 

 breeding-habits ; and P. oryx suggests itself as the most 

 probable host. 



These convictions were greatly strengthened by the dis- 

 covery that in a clutch of four eggs I'rom the nest of a 

 P. oryx (including one of the specimens of C. cupreus above 

 referred to), only two of the smaller eggs were hard set : the 

 remaining one being quite fresh. This specimen differs very 

 slightly in size, shape, and shade of colour from the others, 

 and I believe it to be an egg of Q. quelea. 



1 had hoped to secure a final proof in the shape of 

 fledglings from the nests, but my efforts were frustrated by 

 the ruthless depredations of some other member of the genus 

 Homo. 



Taken in connection with their great numbers, and the 

 fact that where they occur in the same locality P. oryx and 

 Q. quelea are often found feeding together and frequenting 

 the same roosting-places, the above evidence taken cumu- 

 latively, if not sufficient to establish the fact beyond doubt, is 

 at least sufficient to warrant the assumption that Quelea quelea 

 is parasitic in its nestiny-hahits, and that Pyromelana oryx is 

 sometimes, if not always, the host. 



