423 Mr. V. G. L. van Somereu on Birds 



birds lay a large number of eggs for their size, but many are 

 taken by rats and mice and many are not fertile. 



Localities. Jinja, Kyetema, and Naganga, in Uganda; 

 Nairobi, in British East Africa. 



Estrilda paludicolor. 



c? 1. 17.V. 12. 



? 1-2. 15.vi.l3. 



Common. They nest in grass and in small shrubs. The 

 eggs are pure white, five to six in number. The nest is 

 similar to that of the preceding species. 



Localities. Kyetema and Naganga, in Uganda. 



Estrilda subflava. 



J 1-3. l.i.ll; 2.xi. 10; 9. vii. 10. 

 ? 1-2. l.i. 11; 2.xi. 10. 



The males from Uganda are very much darker and richer 

 in colour than birds from West Africa. We found them 

 nesting in January, March, and July, also in October and 

 December. 



On two occasions these birds have adapted the nest of a 

 totally different species to their needs and have reared their 

 young. One pair took over an old nest of Prinia inystacea, 

 and, by lining it with flowering grass-heads and fitting a 

 tubular entrance with the same material, made it look quite 

 respectable. The eggs laid by this species are pure white. 

 Four to six are deposited. These birds frequent the open 

 grass-lands and old native gardens. 



Localities. Sebwe River, Kyetema, and Toro District, in 

 Uganda ; Nairobi and Ngong in British East Africa. 



Estrilda nonnula. 



S 1-3, and nestlings. 21. vii. 09 ; 4. xi. 10 ; 24. vi. 09. 



Eairly common. Found in the native gardens and in the 

 open forests, and also on the open grass-plains. Nests have 

 been found in nearly every month of the year. Nestlings 

 are like adults in colour, but the red on the rump is not so 



