LAGONOSTICTA BRUNNEICEPS 259 
to be equally well represented in the Northern Abyssinian 
district, where Jesse discovered the type of L. brunneiceps ; 
but there is a South African representative, DL. senegala ren- 
dali, Hartert, which deserves recognition. 
Heuglin met with these birds in the town of Dongola, at 
Berber, Senaar and Kordofan; they were generally in small 
flocks and single specimens, mostly seen in the warmer parts 
of Abyssinia and along the White Nile, and according to his 
notes, they assume the full plumage here in July and August, 
when they begin to breed, often placing their nests close to 
each other, at times under the roofs of houses and in holes in 
walls. The nest has a large, irregular outer coating of straw, 
covering a shallow depression for the eggs, and is composed 
of hairs, feathers, grass and wool. The eggs vary in number 
from three to seven. It isa lively little bird, associating freely 
with other Finches, and occasionally will enter a house to pick 
up the bread-crumbs. It is rarely seen in trees during the 
day-time, when it is generally seeking its food on the ground, 
often near dwellings. The Hon. N. C. Rothschild and Mr. 
Wollaston write: ‘‘ These beautiful little birds were never 
observed far from the huts on the river-bank, where they were 
often seen picking up crumbs of dhurra-meal almost out of the 
hands of the natives.” 
My friend, Mr. A. L. Butler, has sent me the following note 
from the Soudan: ‘‘ A common resident. Very fond of the 
vicinity of houses and villages. A charmingly fearless little 
bird, entering verandahs and outhouses freely to drink from 
jars. I have seen it at Khartoum (all the year), at Gedaref 
(April to June), at Gallabat (June), Wad Medani (April and 
June).” Mr. Hawker remarks : “‘ Not noticed south of Goz- 
abu-gumar, but I found it at Fashoda and up the Bahr-el-Gazal 
to Meshra-es-Rek in March and April. I saw a pair feeding a 
newly fledged young one at Khartoum, January 19, 1903; 
