NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 33 



Catalogue of Birds collected on the Eiver Muni, Western Africa, by Mr. P. B Db- 



Chaillu in 1856, with notes and descriptions of new species. 



BY JOHN CASSIN. 



The collection of birds, of which the succeeding is a catalogue, was made by 

 Mr. DuChaillu during a journey up the River Aluni, made with the hope of 

 being able to reach the supposed source of the River Congo as laid down in 

 recent maps. In this, however, he did not succeed, being prevented by ranges 

 of high mountains, and the fact that the nations of negroes at the extreme point 

 attained by him were unwilling to allow any of their people to accompany him, 

 and apparently knew nothing of the nations beyond those mountains. He 

 penetrated to a distance of 250 to 300 miles from the coast, and traced the Muni 

 to its source. ' 



As at Cape Lopez, Mr. DuChaillu did not collect birds of which numerous 

 specimens had formerly been sent in his collections from the Gaboon and from 

 the Moondah. This fact will account for the absence of some well known species 

 from the present catalogue. 



Mr. DuChaillu is at present about to undertake the ascent of the River Camma, 

 lat. about 1.30 S., again hoping to reach the Congo, and if successful will attempt 

 its ascent to its source. With this journey he will occupy the present year, and 

 is amply provided with the necessary equipment for his arduous and perilous 

 undertaking, through the liberality of gentlemen of this Academy. 



1. Gypohierax ANGOLENSis, (GmcHn.) 



Falco angolensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 252, (USS.) 

 Gray's Genera, i. pi. 4. Jard. & Selby, 111. Orn. pi. 13. 

 Adult specimens. 



2. POLYROROIDES RADIATUS, (ScOpoli.) 



Vultur radiatus. Scop. 



Polyboroides typus, Smith. 



Temm. PI. Col. 307 ; Smith 111. S. Af. Zool. Birds pi. 81, 82. 



Several shades darker than any specimen in the Museum of the Academy or 

 as represented in the plates cited. The fine cinereous color of this bird's plumage 

 probably fades very readilj'. Adult specimens in the present collection. 



3. Chaunonotus Sabinei, (J. E. Gray.) 

 Thamnophilus Sabini, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 7, (1842.) 

 Jard. & Selby, 111. Orn. N. S. pi. 27. 



Apparently not abundant in Equatorial Africa. One specimen only in this 

 collection and one other only has been received in Mr. DuChaillu's collections. 

 Adult, very nearly as figured above, but never, 1 think, having had quite so fierce 

 an eye as in the plate above cited. 



4. Laniarius Peli, (Bonaparte.) 



Malaconotus Peli, Bonap. Consp. Av. p. 360, (1850.) 



Laniarius lepidus, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada., vii. p. 327, (1855.) 



5. Tricophorus calurus, Cassin. 



Tricophorus calurus, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada., viii. p. 158, (1856.) 



6. Tricophorus notatus, Cassin. 



Tricophorus notatus, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada., viii. 158, (1856.) 



7. Tricophorus tricolor, nobis. 



Allied to the preceding {T. notatus) but much smaller, and having the colors 

 different. Bill nearly straight, culmen distinct; wing with the fifth and"8ixth 

 quills longest ; tail moderate. 



Total length (of skin) about 6J inches, wing 3, tail 3 inches. 



Tail and its upper coverts dark chestnut, tinged with green on the outer edges 

 of the feathers and paler beneath. Upper parts dark olive green, darkest on the 

 1857.] 3 



