234 Mr. W. L. Sclater on Birds collected 
61o Spermestes scutatus. 
N. Illovo, Nov. (1); Tv. Woodbush, June (1) ; 
P. Coguno, Aug. (1) ; Masambeti, Oct. (3); Beira, 
Nov. (5) ; Tambarara, Apl. (1). 
[The Hooded Weaver-Finch was noted from Natal, the 
North-Eastern Transvaal, and the Inhambane, Beira, and 
Gorongoza districts of the Portuguese country. It often 
occurs in flocks of twenty or more individuals, and frequents 
both grass-covered slopes and native lands, feeding largely 
upon grass-seeds. On being disturbed it flies off with a 
sharp little alarm-note, never, however, going far and often 
perching on the twigs of the bushes and soon descending 
again to the ground. 
The soft parts are:—Irides hazel; bill, upper mandible 
very dark slate-coloured, lower paler; legs and toes dark 
slate-coloured.] 
62. Spermestes nigriceps. 
M. Illovo, Nov. (1); P. Coguno, June (1); Tambarara, 
June (1). 
[Found only in Natal and the Inhambane and Gorongoza 
districts of the Portuguese country. On the whole, it is a 
rather uncommon species and probably very local. It occurs 
in small flocks like S. scutatus , and in habits and actions 
resembles that species. 
The soft parts are:—Irides hazel; bill slate-coloured; 
legs and toes black-brown.] 
65. Quelea quelea. 
Tv. Woodbush, Dec. (9); P. Tambarara, Mch., May (3); 
Tete, Aug. (1). 
The series from Woodbush is very interesting, as all 
the birds were collected within a few days of each other: 
five are adult and presumably breeding males ; of these two 
have crimson on the crown and chest, one has buff on the 
crown and crimson on the chest, and two have no crimson. 
Two young males are just getting traces of the black face 
and crimson on the crown and chest. The two females are 
typical. 
