2 Captain G. E. Shelley on the 



The genus Ploceus iucludes a large number of more or less 

 well-marked " groups. ■" This term I prefer to subgenera, as 

 it does not necessitate the invention of new Latin names, 

 which I have no intention of employing ; but a comprehen- 

 sion of these groups will greatly simplify the classification 

 which I here propose. 



Key to the Genera, of Vloceisje. 



<t. With the base of the cuhnen formiuo- an angle 

 on the forehead in front of the eyes. 

 fl'. Nostrils touching the fiontal feathers. 



fl^. Nostrils entirely covered by the frontal 

 feathers. Tail extending beyond the 

 wings by more than ]| length of tarsus. 

 Uuderparts white ; back earthy brown ; 

 forehead black, with the feathers edged 

 or tipped with white. Small : wing 

 rarely exceeds 2-5 inches in length. 



Sexes similar in plumage 19. Sjwropipes, p. 3. 



b^. Nostrils exposed. Tail shorter, never ex- 

 tends beyond the wings by 1| length of 

 tarsus, rarely by so much as the length 

 of the tarsus. Sexes generally dissimilar 

 in plumage. 

 b^. Entire underparts nearly white ; upper 

 back uniform earthy brown ; entu'e 

 crown uniform black or rufous. With 



a broad white eyebrow 20. Plocepasser, p. 4, 



c^. Never with a broad white eyeberow. 

 Never with the entire plumage black 



and red 21. Ploceus, p. G. 



cP. Entu-e plumage black and red 22. Malimhus, p. 39. 



fe'. Nostrils not sufficiently basal to touch the 

 frontal feathers. With no yellow on the 

 plumage. Large : wings over 4 inches in 



length. Sexes similar in plumage 23. Textor, p. 42, 



b. With the base of the culmen not forming an 

 angle on the forehead in front of the eyes, 

 but extending back in a rounded ridge to a 

 line with the eyes. Bill very stout, culmen 

 evenly curved. Forehead and base of pri- 

 maries white in adults. Sexes similar in [p. 44. 

 plumage 24. Amblyospiza, 



