2.34 Mr. W. L. Sclater on Birds cullectcd 



Gl. Spermestes scutatus. 



N. Illovo, Nov. (1); Tv. Woodbush, June (1); 

 P. Coguno, Aug. (1) ; Masambeti^ Oct. (3); Beira, 

 Nov. (5) ; Tambarara, Apl. (1). 



[The Hooded Weaver-Finch was noted from Natal^ the 

 North-Eastern Transvaal, and the Iuhanil)ane, Beira, and 

 Gorongoza districts of the Portuguese country. It often 

 occurs in flocks of twenty or more individuals, and frequents 

 both grass-covered slopes and native lands, feeding largely 

 upon grass-seeds. On being disturbed it flies off with a 

 sharp little alarm-note, never, however, going far and often 

 perching on the twigs of the bushes and soon descending 

 again to the ground. 



The soft parts are : — Irides hazel ; bill, upper mandible 

 very dark slate-coloured, lower paler; legs and toes dark 

 slate-coloured.] 



G.2. Spermestes nigriceps. 



N. Illovo, Nov. (1) ; P. Coguno, June (1) ; Tambarara, 

 June (1). 



[Found only in Natal and the Inhambane and Gorongoza 

 districts of the Portuguese country. On the whole, it is a 

 rather uncommon species and probably very local. It occurs 

 in small flocks like /S». scutatus, and in habits and actions 

 resembles that species. 



The soft parts are : — Irides hazel ; bill slate-coloured ; 

 legs and toes black-brown.] 



C5. Quelea quelea. 



Tv. Woodbush, Dec. (9); P. Tambarara, :\Icli., May (3); 

 Tete, Aug. (1). 



The series from Woodbush is very interesting, as all 

 the birds were collected within a few days of each other : 

 five arc adult and presumaljly breeding males ; of these two 

 have crimson on the crown and chest, one has buff on the 

 crown and crimson on the chest, and two have no crimson. 

 Two young males arc just getting traces of the black fuce 

 and crimson on the crown and ciiest. The two females are 

 typical. 



