482 XANTHOPHILUS SUBAUREUS 



Xanthophilus subaureus. 



Ploceus subaureus, Smith, Pioc. S. Afr. Inst. April, 1832 Algoa Bay ; id. 



111. Zool. S. Afr. B. pi. .30, fig. 1 (18.39) ; Eeichen. Vog. Afr. iii. p. 90 



(1901). 

 Xanthophilus subaureus, Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 537 (1896). 

 Hyphantorois subaureus, Sbarpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 445 (1890) ; Nehrkorn, 



Kat. Eiers. p. 129 (1899) ecjg ; Shortridge, Ibis, 1904, p. 176 



Pondoland. 



Adult male. General plumage golden yellow, slightly shaded with olive 

 on the upper parts behind the crown ; forehead and front half of crown 

 orange yellow, remainder of the upper parts olive tinted yellow, with the 

 edges of the median and greater wing-coverts, quill and tail feathers clearer 

 yellow ; a portion of the greater coverts and quills inclining to pale dusky 

 brown ; under surface of wings, with the exception of the ends of the quills, 

 bright golden yellow. " Iris reddish ; bill brown ; tarsi and feet flesh-colour " 

 (Stark). Total length 6-4 inches, culmen 0-7, wing 3-2, tail 2-3, tarsus 0-9. 

 Type, S 1 Algoa Bay (Smith). 



Adultfemalc. Slightly smaller and duller ; upper parts more shaded with 

 olive, which colour extends forward to the bill ; back with dusky brown 

 streaks. 



Immature. Upper parts ashy brown, with the lower back, edges of tail- 

 feathers, outer edges of primary coverts and primaries yellowish ; top of 

 head faintly tinged with yellow ; feathers of the mantle blackish near the 

 shafts ; pale edges to the median and greater coverts and the secondaries 

 buff ; inner edges of quills and the under wing-coverts pale yellow, with a 

 portion of the latter, near the primaries, ashy brown ; sides of head brown 

 like the crown, fading into buff on the cheeks and underparts, which are 

 mottled with pale yellow feathers ; flanks and crop slightly more ashy 

 brown. Total length 6-9 inches, culmen 0-7, wing 3-35, tail 2-6, tarsus 1-0. 

 S. Afr. (Smith). 



Smith's Golden Weaver inhabits the enstern half of Soutli 

 Africa south of the Troi^ic of Capricorn. 



The type was discovered by Sir Andrew Smith at Algoa 

 Bay, which is the most western range known for these Weavers. 

 The late Dr. Stark, in his last communication to me, wrote : 

 " Breeds abundantly in Natal, in colonies among reeds, the 

 nests being attached to the stems of one or two reeds ; eggs 

 three, rather pynfonn, white with a few black dots at the 



