104 EINAR LÖNNBERG, BIRDS. 



they keep the tail more or less spread, coquetting with the same. If same other small 

 bird comes near, it is at once attacked, driven away, and hotly pursued for some little 

 distance by these pugnacious fellows. 



Drepanoplectes jacksoni Sharpe. 



Rchw. III, p. 143. 



Common at Nairobi and Punda Melia. It was seen flying about in large swarras. 

 The males in full plumage were in decided minority even as late as in the beginning of 

 April when the dancing display had begun and could be seen every day on the grass steppe 

 outside Nairobi. It is a striking sight to se a number of these birds jumping each in its 

 own dancing place as has repeatedly been described. 



Some swarms contained not even a single adult male in nuptial plumage. These 

 were probably to great extent young birds not yet fully mature. In consequence of 

 its number and size this bird is one of the most obnoxious to the crops in the shambas. 



The flight of the males in full plumage looks heavy and strained. They perch as a 

 rule in the tops of bushes, and straws to display. Without being exactly shy they often 

 take care not to admit the collector within range for a small specimen gun. 



Amadina fasciata ( Gm. ) . 



Rchw. III, p. 146. 



In swarms in the thornbush north of Guaso Nyiri below Chanler Falls in the middle 

 of March, rather common. As a rule they were not found very far from the river, because 

 there was no other water. 



Spermestes cucullatus Sw. 



Rchw. III, p. 149. 



In small flocks in bush country and cultivated land near Nairobi, at Punda Melia, 

 Fort Hall, Kutu and some other places. 



It was of interest to find the western bird with the metallic green patch on the sides 

 so far east as at Nairobi and Kutu. 



A couple of young birds in uniform plumage were shot at Meru 23 /a and a third at 

 Punda Melia l U 1911. Whether these belong to this race or to S. scutatus, is of course 

 impossible to say, but as no specimens of the latter were obtained they are recorded as 

 S. cucullatus. 



At Nandi and in Kawirondo this species is known to occur but it appears not to have 

 been observed as far east as the localities quoted above. This is the more stränge as 

 Reichenow has stated ' the presence of the eastern S. scutata Heugl. much further east 

 as at Ituri, at Fort Mbeni etc, but they might have come there from the northeast while 

 S. cucullata extends eastward on the southern side. 



Vogelfauna Mittelafr. Seengeb., p. 331. 



