UROBRACHYA AXILLARIS 61 
coverts, and a variable portion of the edges of the greater-coverts 
cinnamon. Iris dark brown; bill bluish horn-colour, inclining to white at 
the tips and edges of the mandibles; tarsi and feet black. Total length 
6°3 inches, culmen 0°6, wing 3:4, tail 3-0, tarsus0-95. g, 25. 2.74. Durban 
(Shelley). 
Var. U. affis. Differs from the last only in having the lesser wing- 
coverts golden yellow and the brown on the wing-coverts of a slightly more 
chocolate shade. Total length 6:5 inches, culmen 0°65, wing 3:4, tail 2:7, 
tarsus 0:95. Cage-bird, Zoological Gardens. 
Adult female. Brown; crown and back pale brown with broad blackish 
brown centres to the feathers of the forehead, crown and back, less strongly 
marked on the rump and upper tail-coverts; wings and tail dark brown, 
with pale brown edges to the feathers, passing into orange on the lesser 
coverts; sides of head and the under parts generally, brownish buff; a 
blackish band extending from the gape to the ear-coverts, which latter are 
shaded with dark brown; flanks with blackish brown shaft-stripes; under 
wing-coyerts cinnamon. Iris brown; bill, tarsi, feet and claws pale brown. 
Total length 5:5 inches, culmen 0:6, wing 2°85, tail 1:9, tarsus 0°85. 
9, 5.6.75. Pinetown (T. L. Ayres). 
Adult male in winter plumage. Similar to the female but differing in 
having the lesser wing-coverts orange scarlet, and the quills and tail-feathers 
black. g,16. 7.75. Botha’s Hill (T. L. Ayres). 
Immature. Similar in plumage to the female, but with less orange red 
shade on the lesser wing-coverts. ¢ and ?, Pinetown (T. L. Ayres.) 
The Natal Fan-tailed Whydah inhabits Southern Africa 
east of about 25° H. long. and south of 10° 8. lat. 
The most western known range for this species is the Kei 
River in Eastern Cape Colony, where Sir Andrew Smith pro- 
cured the type. Mr. Rickard has found this Whydah nesting 
near Kast London in October and November. 
In Natal and throughout South-eastern Africa it is abun- 
dant in the more marshy districts. Cols. Butler and Feilden and 
Capt. Savile Reid met with the species in Natal, and observe : 
“ Hxtremely common at Richmond Road in December, where 
it was breeding. The nest is a slight but strong construction 
of grasses, nearly spherical, with a side entrance, built among 
the reeds. Eggs bluish green, tinted with olive, with large 
blotches and a few small spots, some clear dark olive, others 
