66 [June, 



Lesser wing coverts tipped with brown. 

 All other parts of the plumage glossy black. 

 Bill light blue, at the edges of the mandibles pearly white/ 

 Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to end of tail about C| in., wing 3, tall 

 3 3-lOth inches. 



Hab. Port Natal, Eastern Africa. 



This bird belongs to that group of species which appears to form the genus 

 Coliuspasser, Riippel. From either of those species (V. Jlavopiera, Viell.; 

 V. macrocerca, Licht.; V. axillaris, A. Smith and others,) it may readily be dis- 

 tinguished by the white spot on the wing, and the pearly character of the 

 bill 



Three specimens of this interesting species are included in the many valuable 

 acquisitions of the Academy made through the judicious exertions of Mr. Edward 

 Wilson, who secured them in Paris. 



Vidua concolor, nobis. 



Plumage entirely black. 



Bill strong, conical. 



General form and appearance of Vidua pay anensis, Gm., (^V. rubritorques, 

 Swainson,) but the bill is larger, and the tail and wing feathers are broader, 

 with no vestige whatever of the red collar which characterizes that species. 



Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to end of tail about 12 inches, wing 

 2 8-10; tail 8^ inches. 



Hab. Africa. 



Of this species one specimen only is in the Rivoli collection, without label. 

 It is closely allied to the Vidua riibritorques, Swainson, but has the bill larger 

 than either of ten specimens of the latter which I have examined. The entire 

 absence of the red collar is, however, the most striking comparative cha- 

 racter. 



EuPLECTEs nigroventris, nobis. 



Entire upper parts of the plumage bright scarlet, except the wings and tail, 

 which are hair-brown, with paler margins. 



Cheeks and entire under parts (from the base of the bill) deep black, except 

 the thighs and under tail coverts, which are pale reddish-white. 



Hab, Zanzibar. 



Total length, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 4| inches, wing 2 3-lOths, 

 tail 1^ inches. 



This species, one specimen of which from the Rivoli collection is now 

 described, is more nearly related to Eupledes Jlammiceps, Swainson, than to 

 any other species known to me. From that species, as well as from all others 

 of this genus, in which the bright scarlet jJumage predominates, it may easily 

 be distinguished by the uniform deep black of the entire under surface of the 

 body. The inferior tail coverts and thighs are pale reddish white in the speci- 

 men now described, but I suspect that in the more adult bird, they become 

 scarlet, and also that the wings and tail become darker. 



