1856.] 157 



yellow, olhers j-ellowish white, tipped with dark brown. Bill and feet bluish 

 black. 



Hah. Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. 



(9^,5. jVs stated above, this species is about the size of /. minor, and some- 

 what resembles it. In addition to the differences already pointed out, this bird 

 has the bill entirelj' bluish black, not white at base of the under mandible as in 

 /. 7)ii?ior, and as carefully represented in Temm. PI. Col. 542. The colors are 

 much more clear and different from that species. The bill in the present bird is 

 r(>markably short and thick. 



This species may be that represented by Le Vaillant, Ois. d'Afrique, pi. 242, 

 but is very different from that represented in Cimelia Physica, pi. 24, A. The 

 latter is /. Sparrmanni, Stephens, but not the former. It is possible, too, that 

 this may be the bird alluded to by authors on the Ornithology of Western Africa 

 as /. minor, but it is distinct from that species of Southern Africa. 



2. Melignotees exilis, nobis. 



The smallest of all known birds of this group. Bill short, thick ; wings moder- 

 ate ; second and third quills slightly longest ; tail moderate ; legs and toes rather 

 strong. 



Dimensions. Total length (of skin) 4J inches, wings 2\, tail IJ inches. 



Entire upper plumage with every feather dark in the middle and edged on 

 both sides with greenish yellow, darker on the head. Quills dark brown, edged 

 e.'cternally with yellow. Entire under parts greenish cinereous, paler on the ab- 

 domen and nearly white on the ventral region. Tail with the four middle fea- 

 thers bi-ownish black, others yellowish white tipped with dark brown. Bill bluish 

 black ; base of under mandible yellowish white ; feet bluish black. 



Hab. River Moonda, Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. 



Obs. This is the smallest Indicator yet discovered, and is a singular looking 

 little bird. The bill is short and thick, almost resembling that of some species 

 of Euphonia. This bird, in general appearance, bears some resemblance to the 

 preceding, but is much smaller and easily distinguished. One specimen only is 

 in the collection. 



Genus HET^ERODES, nobis. 



Allied to typical Indicator. Bill moderate, curved, slender, rather wide at base, 

 but rather abruptly compressed and tapering to the point ; wings rather long ; 

 second and third quills longest and nearly equal; tail moderate, containing ten 

 rather wide feathers ; tarsi and toes weak, slender, the two anterior rather lung. 

 Size of only known species small. 



3. Hbt;erodes insignis, nobis. 



Small, about the size of the last preceding and resembling it in color, but 

 with the bill totally different (as above described), and the feet .smaller and 

 slender. 



Dimensions. Total length (of skin) 4J inches, wing 2i, tail 1| inches. 



Colors. Entire upper parts dark olive, tinged with yellow, the latter prevail- 

 ing on the lower back and rump ; quills dark brown, edged externally with 

 greenish yellow ; narrow on the primaries, wider on the secondaries, and inter- 

 nally with yellowish white. Under parts ashy olive, darker on the breast, paler 

 and nearly white on the abdomen and under tail coverts. Under wing coverts 

 yellowish white. Tail with the four middle feathers dark olive brown, outer 

 "feathers yellowish white, edged with pure yellow. Bill and feet bluish black. 



jjab. Moonda river. Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. 



Obs. This is one of the most curious little birds that I have ever seen. It is 

 in all respects, a miniature cuckoo, having evident alliance to Indicator and to 

 Chrysococccyx, but especially to the former. The bill is pointed and curved 

 somewhat as in the larger species oi Indicator, but more slender. The plumage, 

 and especially the tail are of the same colors that prevail in this group. One 

 specimen only is in the present collection. 



