BIRDS 



343 



123. Melanopteryx nigerrima (Vieill.) 



Masindi in Unyoro, Magogo in Kavirondo, Kiwalogoma in 

 Uganda. 



$ ad. " Iris yellow, feet brown, bill black." 



124. Hyphantornis bohndorffi (Rchw.) 

 Fovira and Fajao in Unyoro ; Kampala in Uganda. 



$ ad. " Iris red." ? ad. " Iris red." Juv. " Iris hazel-brown." 



125. Hyphantortiis bojcri Cab. 



Mombasa Island, British East Africa, 12/10/96. " Iris dark 

 brown." 



126. Hyphantornis fischeri (Rchw.) 

 Masindi and Fajao in Unyoro, and Kibero (on the east shore 

 of Lake Albert) in Unyoro. " Iris brown." 



Thirteen eggs of Hyp/iantornis fiscJieri show again the same 

 stupendous variation of colours known to occur in most African 

 weaver-birds. Some are bluish-green, others bluish-green with 

 brown spots, or plain dark rufous-brown, or plain brownish 

 olive-brown, almost like a nightingale's egg ; or brown spotted 

 with darker brown. They are all from one colony, in which 

 no other species was observed. These birds, according to Dr. 

 Ansorge, fed chiefly on the "matama" (Kaftre-corn). The males 

 were noticed to be the most vigorous nest-builders, selecting 

 the extreme tip of a branch, on which they fastened the strip of 

 grass they had brought in their beak. The female occasionally 

 came and inspected the work, and the male sometimes left its 

 work unfinished and vigorously began another nest. The female 

 occasionally took part in bringing some softer grass for the 

 inner lining of the nest. When the nest was finished, the male 

 most viciously persecuted every other bird that ventured to 

 alight on his chosen twig, but it never came to any real fighting 

 between them. In other species of Hyphantornis both sexes were 

 observed to be equally busy in building. 



127. Hyphantornis vitellinus (Licht.) 

 •* Mto-ya-mkuyuni," in Ukamba, British East Africa. (This 

 specimen is, I think, the true vitellinus, and not reichardi^ 



