1848.] 67 



Pyrenestes coccineur^ nobis. 

 Head, neck, rump, upper tail coverts and flanks, glossy crimson. 

 Upper surface of the tail of the same colour, but not so glossy. 

 All other parts of the plumage, brown, some feathers of the back and a few 

 of the wing coverts margined with red. 

 Hab. Western Africa. 



Total length from tip of bill to end of tail about 4 4-lOths inches, wing 

 2 3-lOths, tail 1 9-lOths inches. 



Very similar in colour to Pyrenestes ostrinus, (Viell.) but is much smaller and 

 less robustly organized. The bill especially is comparatively weak. 



In the species now described the crimson does not extend to the breast as in 

 P, ostrinus. 



The measurements of the two species are as follows : 



P. ostrinus, (Viell.) P. coccineus, Cassin. 

 Total length (of skin) from tip 



of bill to end of tail about 5 6-lOths inches. . 4 4- 1 0th inches. 

 Length of wing from flexure 



to tip of longest primary 2 8-lOths " . 2 3-lOths " 



Length of tail . . . 2 4-lOlhs >< . 1 9-lOths <> 



Length of bill from gape . 7-lOths <' . 5-10th8 «< 



Breadth of under mandible . 7-lOths " . 5-lOths <« 



The dimensions of the specimen of P. ostrinus here given, agree almost 

 exactly with those given by Mr. Swainson in Birds of Western Africa, 

 (Vol. L p. 158) and also with Viellot's plate Ois. Chant, pi. 48. 



For a line specimen of the rare Pyrenestes ostrinuf, (Viell.) the only specimen 

 in the collection of the Academy, we are again indebted to Mr. Edw. Wilson, 

 who obtained it in Paris. The Academy possesses three specimens of the 

 smaller species now described, two of which were presented by Robt. McDowell, 

 M.D., Surgeon at Sierra Leone, and the other was presented, with other inte- 

 resting birds, by Rev. Wesley Johnson, a pious and learned gentleman attached 

 to an American Mission at Monrovia, Western Africa. 



PiTYhvsJlavo cinereus, nobis. 

 Loxia canadensis, Linn, variety A. Lath. Gen. Hist. V. p. 282. 



Space about the base of the bill extending to the eyes, and including the chin, 

 black. 



Front and top of the head, sides of the neck, breast, and under surface of the 

 wings at the shoulders, bright yellow, running into green on the neck and back. 



Upper part of the back, wings and tail yellowish green. 



Scapular region, lower part of the back, rump, upper tail coverts, abdomen 

 and under tail coverts light cinereous gray. 



Middle of the belly and under tail coverts nearly white. 



Hab. South America. 



Total length, of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail about 7 inches, wing 4, 

 tail 3 inches. 



