APPENDIX 335 



Weaver {XantliopMlus hojcri). This breeds in November, the 

 grass-built nest being compacted with fibrous strips of banana 

 leaf and placed in the outer sprays of low trees — especially the 

 Aleppo-like pine. 



One striking species has the face and throat crimson, 

 narrowly margined with black, and set off by white on shoulders 

 and breast, the upper parts being dark. Several other weavers 

 are dark-headed, with lighter bodies in various colours. 



A brightly-plumaged group are the Bishop-birds {Pyrome- 

 hc/ia), scarlet and black being notable elements in their colour - 

 scheme — figured at pp. 242, 249 ; while an analogous section is 

 formed by the Waxbills {Estrilda). 



At Simba in March we observed the males of Hyphantornis 

 suhaureus spin up vertically in erotic flight, displaying their 

 golden plumage — a habit resembling that of Mirafra fischeri, 

 above described, but in this case without the accompaniment 

 of a "vibrant" rattle. 



Weaver-birds are not all characterised by brilliancy of 

 colour, for the Social Weavers (Philcvtcrus) boast not one feather 

 that can catch the eye. 



The only other species we will mention is the King-Whydah 

 (Chera delamerei), whose extraordinary development of tail (in 

 the males) has already been figured at p. .50. This bird is found 

 only upon the high veld, and is said, like the Cuckoo, to possess 

 parasitic habits in the breeding-time. 



(Mr. Jackson writes : " This I believe to be incorrect.") 



At p. 185 is a sketch of another Whydah-Finch — Fenthetna 

 ardens — the male of which is jet black with flame-red cror^et. 



Orioles 



Golden Orioles — Oriolus — (I believe of two species) were noted 

 in the Rift in August, on the Athi iu September, and at 

 Simba in March. 



Starlings 



Glossy Starlings — Lamprocolius. These are conspicuous birds 

 in all wooded districts, sometimes attending our camps 



