450 BULLETIN 15 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



less pink on the venter and the barring still more obsolete than in 

 peasei. All the forms are based on average characters, but. on the 

 whole, they appear to be valid. 



loo ^oo 300 4.00 j-Qo fniies 



- SCALE • 



FIGURE 30. — Distribution of Estrilda astrild in northeastern Africa. 



1. E. a. peasei. 4. E. a. nyanzae. 



2. E. a. mactniUant. 5. E. a. minor. 

 S. E. a. massaica. 



The single specimen of minor obtained by the expedition is in 

 somewhat Avorn plumage. Its dimensions are as follows: Wing, 

 45; tail, 47; culmen, 8.5; tarsus, 14 mm. It is not wholly typical 

 of minor but slightly intermediate between it and massaica. 



Mearns saw about 100 of these waxbills along the Tana Kiver, 

 August 17-26. 



