420 HYPHANTORKIS NIGRICEPS 



the pinions ; the black of the throat ends in a point on the crop, and the 

 adjoining yellow is sometimes slightly tinged with chestnut. " Iris orange ; 

 bill black ; feet horn-brown" (Stark). Total length 6 inches, culmen 0-8, 

 wing 3-3, tail 2-0, tarsus 0-9. ^ , Zomba (A. Whyte). 



AchiU female. Differs in having no black on the plumage ; forehead and 

 crown of a yellower shade than the back, which is ashy brown with darker 

 centres to the feathers of the mantle ; eyebrows, sides of head and the 

 throat yellow ; under parts white, with a slight brownish shade on the crop 

 and flanks. " Iris hazel ; upper mandible light dusky brown, lower one pale 

 yellowish; tarsi and feet pale brown." Wing 3-1. ?, 25. 9. 80, Umfuli 

 Eiver (Jameson). 



Layai'd's Black-headed "Weaver ranges from Benguela to 

 Natal and over the whole of Eastern Africa to as far north as 

 Somalilaud. 



The occurrence of the species in Benguela was made known 

 by Anchieta who informs us that it is known there by the 

 natives of Capangombe as the " Dicole," and at Caconda as the 

 " Tiatala." Dr. Finsch lias kindly informed me that there is 

 a specimen iu the Leyden Museum, procured by van der 

 Kellen at Gambos. To the south of the Cunene River the 

 species has not been recorded from further west than the Lake 

 Ngami district and Kuruman. Andersson wrote : " I am not 

 aware that this species is an inhabitant of either Damara- or 

 Great Namaqualand ; but I have received specimens from 

 the Lake country." The type was discovered by the late Dr. 

 Moffat at Kuruman, and the species has been recorded from 

 Natal and Zululand ; but is apparently scarce to the south of 

 the Limpopo. 



At the Umfuli River, in Mashonaland, Mr. Guy Marshall 

 found these Weavers fairly common, in small flocks, searching 

 the trees for insects. In this district Jameson and Ayres met 

 with them breeding in colonies amongst the reeds, from the 

 ends of which they suspend their nests. The eggs, according 

 to Stark, are " white, blue, green, or cream-colour, sometimes 

 plain, but often spotted all over with red or brown, or more 



