FBINOILLID^. 169 



202. Hyphantornis spilonotus (Vig.). Spotted-backed Weaver 

 bird. 



Ploceus spilonotus, Smith's Zool. of S. Africa, pi. 66. fig. 1. 

 Hyphantornis spilonotus, Layard's Cat. No. 360. 



„ „ Finsch & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, 



p. 893. 



I am not aware that this species is an inhabitant of 

 either Damara or Great Namaqua Land; but I have 

 received specimens from the Lake-country. 



203. Hyphantornis velatus (Vieill.). Damara Weaver bird. 

 Ploceus velatus, Vieillot's Tableau Encyclop^dique, p. 702. 

 Ploceus mariqteensts, Gurney, Birds Damar., Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, 

 p. 3. 

 „ „ Andersson, ibid. p. 6. 



Hyphantornis capitalis (part.), Layard's Cat. No. 359. 

 Hyphantornis mariquensis (part.), Layard's Cat. No. 364. 

 Hyphantornis Cabanisi, Sharpe's Cat. No. 653. 

 Hyphantornis velatus, Gurney, in Ibis, 1871, p. 254. 



This species is common in Damara Land and the parts 

 adjacent ; it is partial to the neighbourhood of water, 

 where it nests, sometimes amongst reeds, and at others 

 on the extremities of the boughs of trees overhanging 

 permanent or temporary waters, many nests being built 

 on the same tree. The nest is firmly composed of strong 

 grasses ; the number of eggs laid in each nest is three ; 

 and the variation of the eggs in colour, shape, and size 

 is astonishing. 



[This Weaver bird does not appear to have been figured ; 

 the male in breeding-dress closely resembles the species which 

 I have figured (in ' The Ibis ' for 1868, pi. 10) as the male in 

 breeding-plumage of H. mariquensis, Smith, but is somewhat 

 smaller, and the yellow tints are brighter and more conspicuous. 



