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



Hypochera orientalis. 



Hypochera amauropteryx Sharpe ; Keichenow, Vog. Afr. 

 iii. p. 215 [part.]. 



S 1-2. 6.ix.09; 12.i.l4. 

 ? . 6. ix. 09. 



The male collected in September is in full breeding-dress. 

 That shot in January is in the mottled stage of moult into 

 the breeding-plumage. Birds in this condition were singing 

 lustily and pairing off with their females in January. 



Localities. Jinja and Buvuma Isls., Uganda. 



Hypochera chalyheata. 

 ? 1 ; ? 1. 7.vi.l2. 



This male in fall breeding-dress has a strong greenish 

 slieen. They were breeding in May and June. The nest was 

 placed in a thick spray of the Cape lilac^ about seven feet 

 from the ground. The eggs, tbree in number, are white. 

 These birds are found in the scrub and open country, by 

 native villages, and in the open spaces of markets. 



Locality. KisumUj British East Africa. 



Vidua hypocherina. 



S. 21.vi.i2. 



This species is not common. They Avere seen in the dry 

 acacia-country and in the scrub in Kaviroudo. They 

 associated with H. chalybeata. I could not see any difference 

 between the females of the two species. These birds were 

 in breeding-condition in June. 



Jjocalities. Kisumu and Kano, in British East Africa. 



Vidua Serena. 



c? 1-6. 12. X. 10 ; 4. X. 09 ; 18. vii. 06 ; 4. x. 09 ; 13. iii. 09 ; 

 12.x, 10. 



(? 1-4, change plumage. 31. vii. 09; 15.vi.l0; 22. vii. 09. 



? . 22. iii. 12; 18. vii. 06. 



Juv. in change and intermediate plumage. 10. i. 12. 



This series is a good one, as showing the various stages of 

 plumage-change through which this bird goes, from the 

 nestling to the adult male in full breeding-dress. The first 



