356 



PLOCEID.E. 



regular oval shape, slightly glossy, and pure white. It measures 

 75 by *55. 



1. Lado (Emm Pasha: Nehrkorn Crowley Bequest. 



Coll.}. 



Sitagra velata ( Vie-ill.). 



Hyphantornis mariquensis, Ayres. Ibis, 1873, p. 284 ; Bucknitt fy Gron- 

 vold, J. S. Afr. Orn. U. ii. p. 5, pi. i. figs. 7-16 (1906). 



Hvphantornis velatus, Sharpe, ed. Layard, Birds 8. Afr. p. 439 (1875- 

 84) ; Butler, Feilden $ Reid, Zool. 1882, p. 257 ; Ayres, Ibis, 1885, 

 p. 345; Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xiii. p. 464 (1890); Kuschel, 

 J.f. O. 1895, p. 333; Stark, Fauna S. Afr., Birds, i. p. 58 (1900) ; 

 Haagner, Ibis, 1901, p. 16 ; Shelley, Birds Afr. iv. p. 404 (1905). 



Ploceus velatus, Reich. Vog. Afr. iil. p. 78 (1904). 



Sitagra velata, Sharpe, Hand-l. v. p. 474 (1909) ; Nehrk. Kat. Eiersamml. 

 p. 338 (1910). 



A large series of eggs of the Black-fronted Weaver-Finch vary 

 greatly in shape, size, and coloration. They are mostly lengthened 

 ovals, some pointed sharply at one end, others blunt, and not a few 

 specimens are cylindrical, with the two ends quite similar. The 

 following types of coloration occur : white with a few extremely- 

 minute brown specks ; cream-colour, spotted and mottled with 

 chestnut-brown and pale purple ; cream-colour, marked with rich 

 chestnut, chocolate-brown, and purple ; light green, densely marked 

 with minute specks and some spots of chestnut-brown and pale 

 purple ; greenish-blue, boldly blotched with chestnut and pale 

 purple ; blue, distinctly spotted with chestnut, chocolate, and 

 purple. Specimens intermediate between any two of these types 

 are also to be found. They vary from '75 to T05 in length, and 

 from -45 to "68 in breadth. 



R. E. Dent, Esqrs. [C.]. 



