136 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



142. Sycobitts scutatus, Cassin ? 



Sycobius scutatus, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada. 1848 p. 67 ? 



Jour. Acad. Philada. i. pi. 41, fig. 1, 2. 



A single specimen, from the Ogobai. This and another formerly received 

 from Cape Lopez are not in mature plumage, but much resemble the species 

 designated. 



143. Sycobius nitens (J. E. Gray). 



Ploceus nitens, J. E. Gray, Zool. Misc., p. 7, (1842.) 

 Gray, Gen. i. pi. 87, fig. 2. 



Numerous specimens from the Camma and formerly from the Muni and 

 Moonda. 



144. Sycobius nigerrimus (Vieillot). 



Ploceus nigerrimus, Vieill. 



Ploceus niger, Swains. An. Menag. p. 306. 

 Several specimens from the Camma and formerly received from the Moonda 

 and Cape Lopez. Perhaps not properly of this genus, the green color of the 

 young approximating it to Ploceus and Hyphantornis. 



145. Vidua principalis (Linnaeus.) 



Fmberiza principalis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 313. 



Vidua erythrorhynchus, Swains. B. of W. Afr. i. p. 176, pi. 12. 



Buff. PI. Enl. 8, fig. 2. Vieill. Ois. Chant, pi. 36. Edwards' Bird, vi. pi. 

 270, fig. 2. 



Numerous specimens, but generally in young plumage. From the Ogobai 

 and formerly from the Moonda. The adult male of this species is described 

 and figured as above, but Edwards' figure represents rather an immature plu- 

 mage. 



% young. Entire plumage dull brown, without stripes or spots, paler on 

 the under parts and nearly white on the throat. Bill yellow or red at base 

 and tipped with black. Tail short. 



9 adult. Upper parts striped longitudinally with brownish black and dull 

 light ferruginous, under parts ashy white, tinged with dull reddish on the 

 breast. Tail short, tertiary quills nearly as long as the primaries. Total 

 length about 4| inches, wing 2J, tail If inch. 



146. Coliostruthus macrourus, (Gmelin.) 



Loxia macroura, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 845. 

 Fringilla flavoptera, Vieill. 



Vidua chrysonota, Swains. B. of W. Afr. i. p. 178. 

 Buff. PI. Enl. 183, fig. 1. Vieill. Ois. Chant, pi. 41. 



This is a most anomalous and multiform species at different ages, and might 

 very readily be mistaken for several distinct birds. Vieillot, as above, repre- 

 sents the adult male, which is well described by various authors ; Buffon's figure 

 seems to be intended for this bird, but if so, is a failure. 



$ adult ? Tail short, entire upper parts dull ashy brown, every feather 

 having a central longitudinal stripe of brownish black, which stripes are wider 

 on the back. Under parts dull white, tinged with dull yellowish on the breast 

 and the feathers on the breast and sides having a few longitudinal stripes of 

 dark brown. Wings and tail dark brown, coverts at the shoulder edged nar- 

 rowly with yellow, bill and feet light colored. Total length 5 inches, wing 2|, 

 tail 2 inches. 



% young. Tail long, shoulders bright lemon yellow, wings and tarsi black. 

 Upper parts of head and body with the feathers black in the middle and widely 

 tipped and edged with dull reddish ashy, under parts dull ashy white, obscure- 

 ly striped on the breast and sides with light brown. % younger. Tail short, 

 generally resembling the female, but with the upper parts more strongly tinged 

 with dull reddish, and the stripes narrower. Under parts dull and pale green- 

 ish yellow, darker on the breast. Bill and feet light colored. 



[April, 



