136 PLOCEID^ COLIOPASSER 



the top ; it measures about four inches and a-half in height, and 

 three inches in diameter, is constructed of fine grass, with the 

 flowering tops attached, woven in a sort of open network, so that 

 the sides can be seen through, without any additional lining. The 

 sides of the nest are attached to many of the surrounding grass- 

 stalks, the blades and tops of the latter being bent over in the form 

 of a canopy so as to completely conceal it from above. The eggs, 

 laid towards the end of December, are three in number. They 

 have a highly-polished surface of a clear sea-green, marked with 

 large spots and blotches of deep olive-brown. They measure 

 0-80 x 0-58. 



These Widow Birds feed largely on insects, including grass- 

 hoppers, locusts, mantides, and termites, also upon various seeds, 

 especially small grass-seeds. In winter the old and young birds 

 form good-sized flocks, but never seem to wander far from their 

 breeding station. 



fit 

 73. Urobrachya bocagii. Bocage's Widow Bird. 



Urobrachya bocagii, Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 63 (1871) ; id. Cat. B. M. 



xiii, p. 226, pi. 9 (1890) ; Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 24 (1896). 

 Penthetria bocagii, Bocage, Orn. Angola, p. 343 (1881) ; Sharpe, ed. 



Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 461 (1884). 

 Coliuspasser bocagii, Shelley, Ibis, 1886, p. 349. 



Description. Adult male. Like U. axillaris, but with the lesser 

 wing-coverts of a bright orange colour, the primary coverts cinnamon- 

 brown. 



Iris brown ; bill dull white ; feet dark brown. 



Length 7-10; wing 3'50; tail 2-75; tarsus 1-00; culrnen 0-65. 



Distribution. Northern Ovampo Land and the valley of the 

 Cunene Eiver, extending northward into Benguela and Angola. 



Habits. Like those of Urobrachya axillaris. 



Genus IV. COLIOPASSER. 



Type. 



Coliuspasser, Eilpp. N. Wirb. Vog. p. 98 (1835-40) ...C. laticauda. 

 Bill somewhat lengthened, strong, cone-shaped ; laterally com- 

 pressed ; the culm en arched and prolonged to a point on the fore- 

 head ; the gonys lengthened and ascending. Nostrils basal, lateral, 



