416 Mr. V. G. L. van Someren on Birds 



Pyromelana flammiceps. 



S 1-2. 22. viii. 12 ; 9. vii. 12. 



Large numbers of these birds were breeding in the swamps 

 and reed-beds in the Kavirondo country in June. These 

 two specimens are in breeding-dress, though one has not 

 moulted off all the plumage-feathers of the crown. 



Locality. Jinja^ in Uganda-. 



Pyromelana nigrifrons. 



^ 1-11. All collected in October and November. 

 ? 1-5. Ditto. 



This series of males in breeding-dress shows very well the 

 great variation in the colour of these birds. One specimen 

 has no black on the chin. These birds were breeding in 

 large numbers in the elephant-grass and reeds in western 

 Uganda. The nests do not differ from others of this 

 group. The e^^^^ are bright blue. Two to three form 

 the clntch. 



Localities. Kasinga, Lusasa, Kilima, and Kigalama, in 

 Uganda. 



Euplectes xanthomelas. 



S 1-7. 6. xi. 10 ; 22. x. 10 ; 28. x. 10 ; 4. vii. 09 ; 6. iv. 10; 

 4.i. 10. 



? 1-2. 5.vi. 14 ; 10. v. 14. 



Two of these males in full plumage have white chins. 

 A common species, nesting in the grass in the open scrub 

 and swamp country. They breed in May and June, and 

 again in October and November. 



The nest is constructed amongst the grass or small shrubs 

 and does not differ from those of others of this group, which 

 are loosely woven with grass-blades and lined with finer 

 grass. They are semi-domed — that is^ they are circular with 

 an opening at one side, towards the top. The eggs, two to 

 three in number^ are olive-brown in ground-colour, with 

 ash-brown spots ; the surface is glossy. 



Localities. Kisala, Lake Edward, Ankole, and Toro, in 

 Uganda; Nairobi, in British East Africa. 



