228 ESTRILDA ELIZ 
at times to the ground to feed on seeds, ants and other small 
insects. They were tame and abundant throughout the year 
from Uganda to the Mombuttu country, at an elevation of from 
3,000 to 4,000 feet. The breeding season is usually about 
April, but in October, 1877, a whole colony began nesting in 
the trees close to his house. The nest, of an oval form, with 
a small round hole at the side, is strongly constructed of fresh 
grass, and concealed among the leafy boughs, with the inside 
deep and lined with vegetable down and feathers. The eggs 
were pure white and varied from four to six in number. 
Besides these breeding nests they construct others, apparently 
for the males to roost in, and he observed the same habit in 
Philetairus arnaudi. They took eleven days to hatch their 
eggs,and the young remained eight or nine days in the nest. 
In the centre of the colony he found a pair of Spermestes 
cucullatus nesting. Dr. Stuhlmann has procured specimens in 
Uganda, and Dr. Ansorge a fine series from Unyoro and Kam- 
pala, proving that J. nonnula, Hartl., was described from an 
immature bird and Hubropyga tenerrima, Reichen., from the 
adult. 
Estrilda elize. 
Estrilda elizee, Alexander, Ibis, 1903, p. 354 Fernando Po. 
Type. Very similar to H. nonnula, differing only in having the entire 
under parts tinted with grey and the under tail-coverts pale leaden grey. 
Total length 3:8 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 1°9, tail 1:7, tarsus 0°65. ¢, 
14. 12. 02. Moka (Alexander). 
Immature. Head, neck and mantle uniform greyish brown ; entire breast 
and under tail-coverts washed with pale brown. Bill black, tarsi and feet 
blackish. 
The Fernando Po Black-crowned Waxbill is confined to the 
island of Fernando Po. 
I look upon this species as a local, island, representative 
