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Ploceus ocularius and its Geographical Forms. 



The most recent authorities on African birds treat this group with refreshing 

 variation. Prof. Reiehenow in 1004 : 



Ploceus ocularius: S.E. Africa, from Zambesi to eastern ('ape Colony. 



Ploceus ocularius crocatus: E. Africa, from the Upper Kir and Lake Abaya 

 to Nvassaland, Loango, and Angola. 



Ploceus ocularius brachypter/tx : W. Africa, from Senegamhia to Loango. 



What strikes us at a glance is, that Reiehenow admits P. o. crocatus and 

 P. o. brackypterus as subspecies, though in various localities both occur together. 

 But Reichenow's " subspecies" or " conspecies," are not " our " subspecies, which 

 are geographical representatives. 



Shelley in 1905 : 



Hyphanturgus ocularius : Loango to the Cnnene and over Eastern Africa 

 generally from Eastern Cape Colony into the Upper White Nile district and 

 South Abyssinia. 



Hyphanturgus bracliypterus : W. Africa, from Senegambia into Gaboon. 



Shelley unites ocularius with crocata, thus simplifying very much, but we 

 cannot agree to this lumping. It is violating nature to unite all South and 

 East African forms. On the other hand, Shelley does not fall into the evident 

 error of extending the range of bracliypterus right into the area of ocularius 

 in Angola. 



0. Neumann, 1905 : 



Ploceus ocularius ocularius : S. Africa, from Cape Colony through Natal to 

 Transvaal. 



Ploceus ocularius suahelicus : E. Africa, from Zambesi through Mozambique 

 to Mombasa and Lamn. 



Ploceus ocularius brackypterus : W. Africa, from Senegal to Kamernn. 



Ploceus ocularius crocatus: Central Africa, from Upper White Nile over the 

 Victoria Nyanza and Tanganyika to N. Angola. 



Ploceus ocularius abayensis : South Ethiopian Lakes. 



This last arrangement is the most advanced one, and shows at least the 

 results of careful research. Unfortunately I cannot, however, follow Neumann in 

 his separating P. o. abayensis, though otherwise I find his arrangement excellent. 

 I therefore come to the following results : 



33. Ploceus ocularius ocularius Smith. 



Cf. Reiehenow, ] r iir/. A/r. iii. p. 45. 



South Africa, from Cape Colony to Zambesi, and perhaps north of the latter. 

 We have the following specimens : 



1 S ad., " S. Africa." Ex coll. R. B. Sharpe. (No. in ( 'at. : 502b.) 

 1 ? , " S. Africa." Ex H. Whitely. 



1 <3, 1 ?, Port Natal. Ex Jardine coll. (From Mr. McKeu.) 



2 ? ?, "Natal." Ex Gerrard. 



2c??. Ifafa River, Natal, 1895. Woodward coll. 



2 $ ? , Etchowe, Zulnland, Woodward coll. 



1 S ad. from Mlangi, Brit. E. Africa (J. Brown coll.) not very far north from 

 the Zambesi, agrees better with S. African birds than with any others, unless we 

 unite it with crocatus ! It does not agree with suahelicus. A series of better 

 skins should be examined before finally deciding about the Mlangi form. 



