170 



BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



The female resembles in coloration Sir A. Smith's plate of H. 

 mariquensis. 



The following measurements of H. velatus are taken from 

 three specimens now in the collection of Mr. R. B. Sharpe, which 

 were obtained by Mr. Andersson, who recorded the sexes of 

 each : 



Bill from gape |f . 



Wing from carpal joint ... 3 



Tarsus -ft . 



Tail . 2A 



3 

 if 



IH 



u 

 MI 



Two others of Mr. Andersson's skins of this species, which 

 are also now in Mr. Sharpens collection, are evidently changing 

 from a plumage resembling that of the female bird into the male 

 breeding- dress. From these specimens it seems probable that 

 the males of H. velatus, when not in breeding-dress, resemble 

 the females; but, unfortunately, neither the sex of these two 

 specimens is recorded nor the dates at which they were obtained ; 

 one of them, however, is marked as having been procured in 

 Damara Land. ED.] 



204. Euplectes capensis (Linn.). Fellow-Fink Bishop bird. 



Le Grosbec du Coromandel, Buffon's PI. Enl. vol. iv. p. 165, pi. 101. 



fig. 1 (male in breeding-dress). 

 Le Grosbec tachete du Cap, Buffon's PI. Enl. vol. iv. p. 179, pi. 659. 



fig. 1 (male not in breeding-dress). 



Euplectes capensis, Swainson's Birds of West Afr. vol. i. p. 180. 

 Ploceus capensis , Layard's Cat. No. 368. 



This is a comparatively scarce bird in Damara and 

 Great Namaqua Land, but is very abundant at Lake 

 Ngami; it sometimes occurs in large flocks in the 

 open country, and is also found in small communities 



