LAGONOSTICTA LANDANZ 255 
Ayres: “ This species is often to be seen about the jungle on 
the outskirts of the woods, where it attracts attention by its 
peculiar though not loud note. It is most frequently in pairs, 
though three or four are often to be seen together.” He also 
writes: ‘“ Their food consists of grass-seeds; they frequent 
rough high grass, hedgerows, and low underwood at the edge 
of the dense bush. Their nest is generally placed a foot or 
two from the ground, supported amongst coarse grass.” 
Stark adds: “It is circular in shape, with a side entrance, and 
is constructed of fairly coarse grass-stems loosely twined 
together. The interior is lined with feathers. The eggs, 
from four to six in number, are pure white and average 
0°58 x 0°45.” 
In Matabele Mr. Selous obtained a specimen at Hssex 
Vale, and the most northern range yet known for it is Zomba, 
in the Upper Shiré district, where it has been met with by Mr. 
Whyte, and here meets with its northern ally, L. rhodopareia. 
Lagonosticta landane. 
Lagonosticta landanz, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 283, pl. 12, fig. 2 Lan- 
dana; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 426 (1896); Reichen. Vog. Afr. iii. 
p. 201 (1904). 
Type. Upper parts dark brown, with a crimson shade on the crown and 
back of neck ; upper tail-coverts and basal half of the outer webs of the tail- 
feathers crimson; entire sides of head, chin, throat, chest and flanks 
crimson, with the abdomen, thighs and under tail-coverts black, of a dusky 
shade towards the lower chest. Iris brown; bill red, with the tip and the 
edges of the upper mandible blackish ; feet brown. Total length 4 inches, 
culmen 0°45, wing 1°85, tail 1°5, tarsus 0°5. 3, 2.83. Landana (Petit). 
The Landana Fire-finch inhabits Loango. 
The types, a male and female discovered by Lucan and 
Petit at Landana, were formerly in my own collection prior to 
their going to the British Museum. To this species should be 
