DESCRIPTION OF A NEW AFRICAN WEAVER-BIRD. 



By Harry C. Oberhot.ser, 



AsKixfant Ornithologist, Department of Aiirirnltnre. 



Three specimens of I^/illetdirux r(ib<i)nsl (Fischer und Reichenow)/' 

 collected by Dr. A. Donaldson Smith in western Somali i.^and, ditler 

 so much from the typical form of this species that thev seem to 

 represent an unnamed t^-eooraphical race, which may l)e called 



PHILETAIRUS CABANISI ENCHORUS, new subspecies. 



Chars, suhsj). — Similar to PJiilefdinis c((ha))lsl caJxnuxl., but darker, 

 less tawny brow^n above; and pui-e white instead of strongly tinged 

 with flesh color below. 



Jjc-scripfton. — T^'pe, adult male. No. 177921, United States National 

 Museum; Dabulli, western Somali Land, Africa, September 16, 1894:; 

 Dr. A. Donaldson Smith. Top and sides of head down to the cheeks, 

 black; remainder of upper parts, including- tjic wings, broccoli brown, 

 somewhat more tawny on the cervix, and rather darker on the upper 

 tail-coverts; tail sepia ])rown, the edges of the feathers slightly paler: 

 cheeks and lower surface pure white, the sides of the body broccoli 

 brown with broad black streaks; center of lower breast and upper 

 abdomen streaked with black and dark l)r()wn; axillars white; under 

 wing-coverts brownish white; ''irides orange: bill silvery white; legs 

 brownish flesh color." 



The measurements (in millimeters) of our specimens are as follows: 



n^ype. 



These three examples were recorded liy Doctor Sharpe in his account 

 of Doctor Smith's whole collection.'' and are noteworthy as gieatiy 

 extending the known northward range of the species. 



c Nlgrita cabanid Fischer and Eeichenow, Joiirn. f. Ornith.. 1884. p. 54 (Pare 

 Mountainy, Masailand, German East Africa). 

 &Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1895, p. 465. 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXVII-No. 1370. 



tjs3 



