416 HYPHANTORNIS SPILONOTUS 



similar grass materials. During the first days in May the 

 males appeared and, having selected a site, began constructing 

 the nests, which in eight or ten days were roughly completed. 

 The females then arrived and, after flirting and quarrelling 

 with the males for two or three days, made them finish the 

 decoration of the dwellings, they only contributing by laying 

 the soft lining for the eggs to rest on. Unfortunately for these 

 Weavers, they were at times ousted by the Sparrows {Passer 

 diffi(sus), which often took possession of their nests. 



The species is represented in the British Museum from 

 Machako's (Hinde), Athi River, Nairobe, Lake Nakuru, Msara, 

 Minisu (Delamere), Somali (Phillips), Guelan (Pease) and Shoa 

 (Antinori). Among these specimens there ai'e full plumaged 

 males collected in February, March, April, September and 

 November, and two males in immature plumage obtained in 

 November and February. From this it would appear that the 

 species has no special winter plumage, and that the males, once 

 they have acquired the black and yellow plumage, retain their 

 bright colouring throughout the year. 



Mr. Jackson's collection contains specimens of this Weaver 

 from the Nyando Valley close to Ntebbe, which is the most 

 western range known for the species. 



Hyphantornis spilonotus. 



Ploceus spilonotus, Vigors, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 92 (June) Algoa Bay; 



Smith, 111. Zool. S. Af. Av. pi. 66, fig. 1 (1841) ; Eeichen. Vog. Afr. 



iii. p. 64 (1904). 

 Hyphantornis spilonotus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 468 (1890) ; Shelley, 



B. Afr. I. No. 545 (1896) ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Biers, p. 131 (1899) 



egg ; Shortridge, Ibis, 1904, p. 175 Pondoland. 

 Ploceus stictonotus, Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. 1831, p. 11 (Oct.) 



Eastern Cwpe Colony. 

 " Ploceus chrysostictos, Licht." Bp. Consp. i. p. 441 (1850). 

 Ploceus cyclospilus, Reichenb. Singv. p. 80, pi. 38, figs. 295, 296 (1863). 

 Ploceus braudti, Eeichenb. t. c. p. 82, pi. 40, fig. 306. 



