on Bird Notes fro7ii Uganda.



223



these, all resplendent with their metallic purples, greens,

blues, etc. glittering in the sun. Unlike the true Humming

Birds, this family seems always to suck the honey while settled,

although they may often be seen hovering in the air, probably

to catch some minute insect.


Then we come to the Bee-eaters, of which there are

at least two species, one much smaller than the other. In fact,

the smaller one seems to a large extent to have now (January)

taken the place of the larger one, which was extremely common

three or four months ago.


We have also several species of Weaver birds : the com¬

monest ( Hyphantornis abyssinicus ), being a bright yellow bird

with black head. The bird is exceedingly common around the

lake shore, and on one tree twenty or thirty nests may be seen.


A few days ago (Jan. 14th) I was interested in watching

some of these birds busily building new nests in a colony, if one

may so call a group of their nests ; and after watching for some

time I went and examined the nests, in several of which were

eggs, but in one were two young birds just ready to leave the

nest.


In spite of their brilliant yellow colour these birds are not

easy to distinguish at a little distance, being exactly the same

colour as the flowers of the tree they nest in.


Then we have a black Whydah ( Urobrachya phoenicea ) with

orange upper wing coverts. These birds always seem to keep

in flocks, several cocks, say ten or more, to about four times as

many hens.


The Kingfishers again are most beautiful. The commonest

of all is a black and white speckled bird which frequents the

lake and feeds probably entirely on fish. Another common one

(.Halcyon cya?io!eucus) is a lovely bird, with bright blue back,

wings and tail, black shoulders, grey breast, neck, and head, and

a bright-red bill. This bird is, I think, entirely insectivorous,

and though they are sometimes to be seen beside the lake, I have

never yet seen them touch the water. There is also a very

small species about 4 inches long, with dark blue back, tail, and

top of head, salmony breast and abdomen ; and I have also, on

several occasions, seen a very large kind.



