from Dee/font ein, Cape Colony. 347 



e-h. 6 ad. Deelfontein, May 20-24, 1902. 



i. 6 ad. „ Au-. 13, 1902. 



k. d ad. „ Sept. 22, 1902. 



I. S ad. „ Oct. 10, 1902. 



This interesting series seems to prove that C. chalybea 

 has no distinct non-breeding plumage, as the October speci- 

 men would be in breeding-dress, and after the nesting-season 

 we find the bird in full plumage again in March, and this 

 perfect livery is met with throughout May and up to 

 August. 



Young males commence with a hen-like plumage, as proved 

 by one shot by Capt. Shelley himself in January at Ceres in 

 Cape Coiony. In February they begin to moult, and are 

 full-plumaged in March. There are apparently more broods 

 than one in the year, as a September bird is also moulting 

 and emerging from the brown plumage into that of the 

 adult, the scarlet band being paler than in most of the adults, 

 so that it is evident that the young birds, after their first 

 moult, are not so brightly coloured. 



[This bird is very common, and is found, here nearly all 

 the year round, being especially fond of frequenting the dog- 

 wood bushes, both on the kopjes and on the veldt.] 



94. Vidua principalis. 



Vidua principalis L. ; Sharpe, ed. Layard, pp. 453, 848 

 (1875-84); id. Cat. B. xiii. p. 203 (1890) ; Stark, Faun. S. 

 Afr., Birds, i. p. 145 (1900). 



a. 6 ad. Deelfontein, May 30, 1902. 



95. Pyromel.ena oryx. 



Pyromelana oryx (L.) ; Sharpe, ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. 

 pp. 462, 849 (1884) ; id. Cat. B. xiii. p. 231 (1890) ; Stark, 

 Faun. S. Afr., Birds, i. p. 126 (1900). 



a. $ ad. Deelfontein, July 3, 1902. 



b, c. d ad. „ Nov. 19, 1902. 



The eggs in all the clutches are light blue, and are not 

 unlike those of our English Hedge- Sparrow. Axis 075- 

 0'85 inch, diam.0 - 5-0 6. The nests were placed in the reeds 

 over water. 



2 c 2 



