348 T)r. R. B. Sharpe on Birds 



[This Bishop-bird was not common and was very local, being 

 generally found near reed-beds and wheat-fields. It seems 

 to finish its nest after the first egg has been laid, as this 

 could always be seen through the nest ; but when the full 

 complement of three or four eggs had been deposited it was 

 impossible to see them, the lining of the nest having been 

 completed.] 



90. Hyphantornis velatus. 



Hyphantornis velatus (V.) ; Sharpe, ed. Layard, pp. 439, 

 847 (1875-84) ; id. Cat. B. xiii. p. 464 (1890) ; Stark, Faun. 

 S. Afr., Birds, i. p. 58 (1900). 



a, b. £ ad.; c, d. £ hiem. Deelfontein, March 1,2, 25, 

 1902. 



e-g. £ hiem.; h-m. ? ad. Deelfontein, April 11-25, 

 1902. 



n. $ hiem. Deelfontein, June 13, 1902. 



o, p. tf hiem. „ July 20, 1902. 



(/-s. 6 hiem.; t-U . $ restiv. Deelfontein, Oct. 24-27, 

 1902. 



The birds obtained in October are apparently all males in 

 full breeding-plumage, with the exception of two late indi- 

 viduals procured on the 24th of that month, which are still 

 in winter plumage. By the 1st of March the males are in 

 full moult and are losing their yellow colour. When in 

 winter dress the males and females are almost exactly alike, 

 but the males can generally be distinguished by a tinge of 

 saffron-yellow on the fore-neck. One male bird killed on the 

 25th of April shews a few black feathers on the face and 

 chin, probably the last remains of the moult of the black 

 face into the winter plumage. 



Among the males in full dress in October there are two 

 which have the brown quills of the winter plumage not yet 

 shed. It is evident that in putting on the full nuptial dress 

 the quills are moulted as well as the body-feathers. 



The three eggs have the ground-colour greenish blue, 

 thickly spotted and smudged with dull reddish marks, some 

 of the underlying spots being purplish grey, but very in- 

 distinct. Axis 0"9 inch, diam. 0'G. 



