According to Von Heuglin the breeding-plumage is attained, without a regular moult, in 

 June and July, at which time they also commence- breeding. However, when I met with them 

 on the Nile in April they had then attained their complete nuptial dress, and, I have no doubt, 

 were just about to construct their nests. They have two broods in the year. 



The nest is of an oval form, with the entrance on one side, and consists of grass, fine roots, 

 and fibre, closely and prettily woven together, and is attached to the end of a bough, usually of 

 some acacia tree, at no great distance from water. Internally the nest is narrow and deep, and 

 is lined with very fine roots, the down of plants, wool, and feathers, and contains from two to 

 four eggs. The eggs are much elongated, and have very thin shells ; their colour, according to 

 Von Heuglin, is white with a roseate blush, a few pale rufous spots, and some larger dark grey 

 or violet-brown marks. This description agrees with some of the eggs collected by Antinori and 

 Beccari ; but they found the colour vary considerably. 



Mr. Jesse collected three specimens "about two miles from the plains of Koomaylee up in 

 the hills in quite a cool temperature, full 1200 feet above the sea ; this was in March." On his 

 return, at the end of May, they were plentiful in the plains of Koomaylee, but in very bad 

 plumage, the males having all lost the long tail-feathers; and he concludes that the breeding- 

 season was then over. Koomaylee is a small village a short distance inland from Annesley Bay. 

 Mr. Blanford also found it at Koomaylee common in pairs in July, and apparently commencing 

 to breed. "After the breeding-season," he writes, "this bird probably loses its long tail-feathers, 

 as they were wanting in a specimen I shot in the beginning of August. I also met with N. 

 metallica in Sarnhar, the Lebka valley, and very rarely on the Anseba." 



The range of this species is, as far as we yet know, limited to the Nile valley and the country 

 to the eastward from 12° to 24° N. lat. — that is to say, from the First Cataract on the Nile to 

 the Gulf of Tajurrah, opposite Aden. Near this latter locality Antinori and Beccari procured 

 numerous specimens at Kursi ; so that in all probability its range may extend somewhat further 

 south. They also met with it at Monkullu, opposite Massowah, in March, April, October, and 

 November, and therefore consider it to be a resident there. How far westward from the Nile 

 valley it may extend we are unable to say, but presume that its range in that direction is very 

 limited, or it would be found on the west coast. 



The adult male and female which I have here figured and described were collected by 

 myself on the Nile, near Korosko. 



