XANTHOPHILUS XANTHOPS 483 



large end. They measure 0-75 x 0-68. Nest composed of 

 strips of reed-leaf, lined with fine strips and the flowering 

 tops (drawing of nest enclosed)." From this drawing was 

 copied the illustration (Faun, S. Afr. B. i. p. 64), in which 

 work he adds, that in many localities in Natal and Zululand it 

 is by far the commonest Weaver. " To an ornithologist it is 

 a charming sight to watch these delicately coloured ' canary- 

 like ' Weaver-birds during the breeding season in November, 

 hovering over the reed-tops or clinging to the stems while 

 weaving their nests, all the time keeping up a ceaseless chat- 

 tering, which is changed to a harsher cry if they are alarmed. 

 These Weavers feed indiscriminately on seeds, small berries 

 and insects." 



The most northern range known to me for the species is 

 luhambane, where it has been met with by Mr. H. F. Francis. 

 The bird from which I have described the immature plumage 

 is specimen " d " (Oat. B. M. xiii. p. 466), there wrongly referred 

 to as the type of Ploceus tahatali, which species Sir A. Smith 

 originally described as above olive green, beneath bright 

 yellow. Length 5f inches. 



Xanthophilus xanthops. 



Hyphantornis xanthops, Hartl. Ibis, 1862, p. 342 Angola; Sharpe, Cat. 



B. M. xiii. p. 447 (1890). 

 Xanthophilus xanthops, Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 538 (1896) ; Alexander, 



Ibis, 1899, p. 574 Zambesi. 

 Ploceus xanthops, Eeichen. Vog. Afr. iii. p. 88 (1904). 

 Hyphantornis aurantiigula, Cab. J. f. O. 1875, p. 238 Loango. 

 Hyphantornis jamesoni, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 447 (1890) Swazi, 



Mashona ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Eiers. p. 139 (1899) egg. 

 Xanthophilus jamesoni, Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 539 (1896). 

 Ploceus xanthops jamesoni, Eeichen. Vog. Afr. iii. p. 90 (1904). 

 Hyphantornis camburni, Sharpe, Bull. B. 0. C. x. p. 35 (1900) Mt. Kenya. 

 Ploceus xanthops camburni, Eeichen. Vog. Afr. iii. p. 90 (1904). 

 Adult male, type. Forehead and front half of the crown deep golden 

 yellow, remamder of upper parts shaded with olive ; wmgs dark brown 



