16 HEDYDIFNA. 



In spring the present species wanders down the Nile to 

 Phila?, the beautiful island which overlooks the First Cataract. 

 Between this island and Korosko I met with the species daily 

 towards the latter end of April, at which season they were in 

 full breeding plumage. I frequently watched them as they 

 flitted within a few yards of me round the sparsely scattered 

 flowering plants which decorate the river banks, or as they 

 perched, in pairs, on the mimosa bushes twittering in a sweet 

 little duet apparently consulting as to the most suitable spot 

 for the construction of their nest. The males apparently 

 assume their full breeding plumage in March and lose it again 

 in August, for near Koomalee, a small village not far from 

 Anseba Bay, Jesse procured a male in breeding plumage 

 in March, and on his return journey to the coast met with 

 them in bad plumage. Mr. Blanford writes : " I saw one 

 nest of cocoons, tree-cotton and fine grass. It was suspended 

 from an acacia, and had the usual form, with an entrance at 

 the side ; there were no eggs in it in the commencement of 

 June. After the breeding season this bird probably loses its 

 long tail-feathers, as they were wanting in a specimen I shot 

 in the beginning of August. I also met with N. metallica in 

 Samhar, the Libka valley, and very rarely on the Anseba." 



They are said to lay from two to four eggs in a nest, which 

 eggs, according to von Heuglin, are much elongated, white 

 with a rosy blush, a few pale rufous spots and some larger 

 dark grey or violet-brown marks. Antinori and Beccari found 

 the colour of the eggs to vary considerably. 



Hedydipna platura. 



Hedydipna platura (Vieill.) Shelley, Monogr. Nect. p. 7, pi. 3 (1879); 



id. B. Afr. i. No. 6 (1896). 

 Nectarinia platura, Heugl. Orn. N. 0. Afr. p. 225 (1870) Djur and 



Kasanga rivers ; Hartl. Abhaud. Nat. Ver. Brem. 1881, p. 109, 



