KUNGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 47. N:0 5. 103 



had not begun yet. They were, however, both times in great number perching in the same 

 trees, some very dense acacias. 



A male specimen of this kind evidently adult but not in full plumage was shot at 

 Punda Melia 22 /i 1911 in shambas in company with Coliuspasser eques. 



Euplectes xanthomelas Rupp. 



Rchw. III, p. 128. 



In bush-country near Nairobi. Also common at Fort Hall and Kutu. A male 

 shot at the latter locality 26 /i 1911 had already strongly swelled testicles, while the same 

 was the case with a male shot two months låter at Fort Hall. This indicates that these 

 birds breed at different times of the year. At the Escarpment station males in different 

 stages of transitory plumage were seen in January. It was also seen at Embu borna, 

 Meru borna, and between the latter place and Luazomela. Their usual haunts is bush 

 country but they are also found in grass-land with scattered bushes. Its beautiful bright 

 yellow and black plumage makes it very conspicuous. 



Coliuspasser laticauda (Lcht.). 



Rchw. III, p. 136. 



Common around Nairobi in and near cultivated fields. Some males were almost 

 in full plumage already the first days of January. The 21 st of Jan. a male in full plumage 

 was shot at Punda Melia but as late as the 31 st of March many males were found in all 

 stages of moult round Fort Hall. Some of these had swelled testicles, although they still 

 were broadly striped with brown on their backs, and some had not even developed the red 

 feathers of the head. In consequence of their long tails the males in full plumage struggle 

 rather heavily when on the wing. They are fond of perching on top of bushes, and on 

 stiff straws to display their beauty. 



As these birds occur in great numbers they do much damage at the crops of the 

 natives like several others of their congeners. 



Like several other Ploceids they prefer grassy plains with scattered bushes, and 

 cultivated fields before any other landscape. 



Coliuspasser eques Hartl. 



Rchw. III, p. 141. 



A very common bird at Fort Hall, Punda Melia, Kagio etc. in the grass, and in the 

 cultivated fields where they in swarms attacked the Pennisetum-croip. It was also shot 

 on the first days march north of Meru borna. 



The last days of March the males were found to have swelled testicles. 



Although the tail of the males of this species is not so big as that of some of its rela- 

 tives, it appears to be a hindrance to their flight. When they alight in the top of a bush 



