Birds around Mpiimu, Uganda. 493 



time of year are in breeding condition, but I liave never yet 

 found the nests. When feeding tliey are very noisy, and 

 sound like a colony of Melnnopteryx nigerrima building. 



Iris bright yellow ; feet l)rovvn ; bill black. 



Imm. Iris dull brown; feet brown ; bill brown. 



49. Hyphantornis dimidiatus fisclieri. Not very common. 

 Nesting in March and April on elephant- grass. Of the only 

 two nests I have found, one contained light blue eggs spotted 

 ■with brownish, the other reddish-brown eggs. The clutch 

 "was two in each case. 



50. Cinnamopteryx interscapularis. 



Cinnamopteryx interscapularis (lieichw.); Shelley, B. Afr. 

 iv. 1905, p. 361. 



Only one seen, a male coming into colour, the chocolate 

 on the breast being only shown by a few feathers. Iris dark 

 chocolate. 



51. Oriolus brachyrhynchus. Not very common, but its 

 rich notes are occasionally heard. 



52. Pholidaiiges verreauxi. This bird does not, as far as I 

 know, breed here, and I have only noticed it from the end 

 of April to the end of August, none of ray birds being in 

 breeding condition. 



One obtained on April 28 is a male coming into colour. 

 The primaries, coverts, and tail have changed to the adult 

 plumage, the back having a few new feathers, while the head 

 has not yet begun to show them. They go about in flocks 

 of from six to eight, and have the habit of flying from a 

 branch to catch an insect and returning to the same spot. 



53. Lamprotornis splendidus. 



Lamprotornis splendidus (Vieill.) ; Shelley, B. Afr. v. 

 1906, p. 65. 



Common. Every evening a noise like a distant express 

 train can be heard as these birds fly overhead in large flocks 

 to their roosting-grounds. Flock after flock passes over. 

 They are very noisy and extremely shy birds. 



