238 Mr. \y. L. Scluter on Birds collected 



72. Urobraciiya axillaris. 



Z. Jususie Valley, Dec. (7 ^ , 1 ? ) ; Umfolosi Station, 

 Sept. (1) ; Ngoye Hills, Oct. (1). 



["Maubi" of Zulus. 



The Red-shouldered Widow-bird was noted from Natal 

 aiul Zululand, the North-Eastern Transvaal^ and the Beii-a 

 district of the Portuguese country. It frequents extensive 

 A'^eis and low-lying plains clothed with luxuriant grass, and 

 is usually observed in flocks comprising a male or two 

 and numbers of females. The flight is floppy and somewhat 

 eri'atic. It feeds principally upon insects and grass-seeds. 



The soft parts are : — • 



(J , in ivinter, and ad. ? . Irides hazel ; bill; legs and toes 

 horn-brown. 



^ breeding. Bill pale slate-coloured ; legs and toes very 

 dark slat}-.] 



74. Penthetria albonotata. 



Tv. Klein Letaba, Sept. (1 (^ , 1 ? ). 



There is no female example of this somewhat scarce 

 species in the British Museum. The males of this group 

 are always more consj)icuoiis and bold, while the females are 

 apt to hide in the long grass and are less often collected. 



[This species was only found in the low country of the 

 jSTorth-Eastern Transvaal, where it was by no means common, 

 lu general habits it resembles C. ardens.] 



75. COLIUSPASSER PHOGNE. 



N. Durban, Nov. (1) ; Z. Umfolosi Station, July (1) ; 

 Tv. Wakkerstroom, Mch., Apl. (5); Pietersburg, Feb. (10). 



Of the Wakkerstroom examples one is a female, one a 

 male in full breeding-plumage, and three have already got 

 their winter dress. The breeding male is dated March 4, 

 the others March 25 and A(3ril 18. 



Of the Pietersburg specimens, all collected in February, 

 seven are males in breeding-plumage, one is a female^ and 

 two are young males, so that, although the nesting-season 

 is in Novcuiher or December, the males do not yeeni to have 

 lust their breeding-dress bv March. 



