HYPHANTORNIS DIMIDIATUS 437 



The most southern range known to me for this species is 

 Kagehi, at the southern end of Victoria Nyanza, where 

 Fischer procured the types of Ploceus Jischeri in November and 

 December, and met with at the same locality H. jacksoni, 

 which latter allied species is apparently more at home in the 

 Masai district, while tlie present one belongs rather to the 

 Nile region. Mr. Jackson's collection contains specimens 

 from Butiaba on the Alljert Nyanza. Dr. Ansorge found the 

 species at the Albert Edward Nyanza and in Unyoro, and 

 brought home thirteen of their eggs all out of one colony of 

 nests. These are described by Mr. Hartert as very variable 

 in colouring. " Some are blnish green, others bluish green 

 with brown spots, or plain dark rufous brown, or plain 

 brownish olive, almost like a nightingale's egg ; or brown 

 spotted with darker brown." Thej measure on an average 

 0-86 X 0-60. 



" These birds," according to Dr. Ansorge, " fed chiefly on 

 the ' niatama ' (Kaffre corn). The males were noticed to be 

 most vigorous nest-builders, selecting the extreme tip of a 

 branch, on which they fastened the strips of grass they had 

 brought in their beaks. The female occasionally came to 

 inspect the work, and the male sometimes left its work 

 imfinished and vigorously began another nest. The female 

 occasionally took part in bringing some soft grass for the 

 inner lining of the nest. When the nest was finished, the 

 male most vigorously persecuted every other bird that ven- 

 tured to alight on his chosen twig, but it never came to real 

 fighting between them. In other species of Hijph into mis 

 both sexes were observed to be equally busy in building." 



In the British Museum there are fifteen specimens from 

 Magungo in Unyoro and Wadelai, collected by Emiu, who also 

 procured the species at Agaru. From the wide tract of coun- 

 try between the latter place and Kassala it has not been 



