318 [December, 



14. Syncopta tincta, Cassin. 

 Syncopta tincta, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada., vii. p. 325, (1855.) 

 In plumage exactly the same as the original specimens. 



10. Sylvietta microura, (Riippel.) 

 Troglodytes micrurus, Eiipp., Neue Wirb. Abyss, pi. 41, fig. 2. 

 Much like the figure as cited and very probably identical. 



16. CiSTicoLA cuRSiTANS, (Franklin.) 



Prinia cursitans, Frank., Proc. Zool. Soc, London, 1831, p. 118. 



"Cisticola oryzicola, Temm., ex Borneo." Label on spec, from Leyden Mu- 

 seum. 



Jard. 111. Ind. Orn. pi. 6. 



Not distinguishable from India specimens, and we may add, scarcely from 

 European Sylvia cisticola. The first that 1 have seen from Africa. 



17. Drymoioa, Swainson. 



Specimens of two species in the present collection I cannot refer to known 

 Western African species of this genus, but must defer naming them until my 

 leisure will allow a full examination of the group. 



18. Spermestes cucullata, Swainson. 

 Spermestes cucullata, Sw. B. of W. Af. i. p. 201, 

 Von Miiller Beitr. Orn. Afr. pi. 16. 



Specimens labelled as adults of both sexes are very similar, but the young 

 are quite different. The entire plumage is dull brown, like the back of the adult, 

 tinged with ashy on the lower parts, and nearly white in the middle of the ab- 

 domen. Not a vestige of the glossy metallic tints of the head, breast and sides 

 of the adult. 



The Baron Von Miiller gives very handsome figures of adults, as above. 



19. Ortygospiza atricollis, (Vieillot.) 



Fringilla atricollis, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. xii. p. 182, (1817.) 



Fringilla polyzona, Temm.? 



Temm. pi. col. 221, fig. 3? 



Specimens in the present collection agree with the description of Vieillot. but 

 though apparently in adult plumage, have no white on the throat nor around the 

 eyes in either sex. I have also before me seven specimens of the true 0. poly- 

 zona from " Gambia," in which this character is present. In other respects the 

 two are very similar. 



Females have the throat pale cinereous, not black as in the male. 



20. ESTRELDA MELPODA, (Vieillot.) 



Fringilla melpoda, Vieill., Ency. Meth. p. 987. 

 Vieill. Ois. Ch. pi. 7. 



Beautiful specimens of both species. The female only differs from the male in 

 being lighter colored. 



21. Fringillaria tahapisi, (Smith.) 



" Emberiza tahapisi. Smith, Rep. of S. Af. Exp." 



Two specimens which are the first appearance of this species in the fauna of 

 Western Africa. Not having access to the description by Dr. Smith, I apply this 

 name on the faith of that accurate ornithologist Mr. Jules Verreaux, who pre- 

 sented specimens from South Africa to the Museum of this Academy. Those 

 specimens are strictly identical with the present, and are labelled by Mr. Ver- 

 reaux " type de Smith." 



22. Sycobius nigerrimus, (Vieillot.) 



Ploceus nigerrimus, Vieill. Ency. Meth. p. 700. 



Ploceus niger, Swains, Cab. Cy. Menag. p. 306. 



Specimens labelled by Mr. DuChaillu as both sexes of this little-known species 

 are entirely black, and differ only slightly in size and lustre of plumage. The 

 young are however very different, having the upper parts dark green with Ion- 



