410 HYPHANTORNIS TAHATALI 



boughs of trees overhanging permanent or temporary waters, 

 many nests being built on the same tree. The nest is firmly 

 composed of strong grasses ; the number of eggs is three; and 

 the variation of the eggs in colour, shape and size is astonis- 

 ing." Mr. Fleck has also met with it in Daraaraland. 



It is not so surprising to find this species invading the 

 dominion of H. velatus in the west when it, in like manner, 

 shares the Transvaal district with H. mariquensis, and the habits 

 of the three species appear to be alike, excepting, perhaps, that 

 the present one is more partial to hanging its nests from the 

 trees and H. viariquensis generally selects reed-beds for breeding 

 purposes. In the British Museum there are five specimens of 

 this species from Swaziland and the Limpopo River, collected 

 by Buckley, and six males of H. mariquensis from Macamac, 

 Potchefstroom, and probably other parts of the Transvaal. 



Mr. T. Ayres writes: "The birds that frequent the moun- 

 tainous parts of the Rustenburg district, where the country is 

 wooded and warm, appear to me to be very much smaller, and 

 also much brighter in jilumage, as a rule, than those inhabiting 

 the more open plains of the same district and other open parts 

 of the Transvaal. Adapting their manners to circumstances, 

 they hang their nests to low bushes and trees overhanging the 

 streams, whereas in the open country their nests are usually 

 placed between two reeds in the swamps or on the reed-banks 

 of rivers, though even there the nests are occasionally to be 

 found hanging from the outer twigs of trees. The eggs of the 

 smaller race vary in colour just as those of the larger and less 

 gaudy birds." He saw them commencing their nests in August 

 before any of the males had assumed their bright nuptial dress, 

 and by October 20, when he first found their eggs, they had 

 attained their full breeding j^lumage. He also writes : " Not 

 uncommon about the Inshlangeen, Mr. Jameson found them at 

 Palatsie Pan in December, and subsequently I found a nest 



