THE I B I S. 



FIFTH SERIES. 



No. XVII. JANUARY 1887. 



I. — A Review of the Species of the Family Ploceidae of the 

 Ethiopian Region. By Captain G. E. Shelley^ F.Z.S. — 

 Part II. Ploceinse. 



(Plates I. & II.) 



[Continued from ' The Ibis,' 1886, p. 359, and concluded.] 



The second subfamily of the Ploceidae, Ploceinie, is distin- 

 guished by the larger size of the bastard primary, which is 

 never very sharply pointed ; the tail always square or 

 rounded, never elongated nor graduated ; the claws always of 

 moderate lengthy strong, and much curved. 



The species of this group generally build in colonies, and 

 with few exceptions their nests are hung from the ends 

 of boughs or reeds^ and are spherical, with an elongated 

 entrance. 



The members of this subfamily run so closely into each 

 other that I have only been able to base four genera upon 

 structural differences^ but have considered it advisable to 

 recognize two others, Plocepasser and Malimbus, separated 

 solely upon style of colouring, as they are well-marked 

 divisions and have been generally accorded generic rank. 



SER. V. — VOL. V. B 



