4 Ciiptaiu G. E. Shelley on the 



Amadina frontalis, Ptiipp. Neue Wirb. 1835-10, p. 101. 



Estrelda frontalis, Gray & Mitchell, Gen. B. ii. 184-9, 

 p. 3G8. 



Sporopipes frontalis, Cab. Mus. Hein, i. 1851, p. 179. 



Hal). N.E., E., and W. Africa. South from about 17^ N. 

 hit. to Ugogo in E. Africa and Senegambia in W. Africa. 



a, (J juv. February, Lado. The immature bird has no 

 white spots on the black forehead and moustaches. 



20. Plocepasser. 



1836. Plocepasser, Smith, Rep. Exp. Expl. Type. 

 Centr. Afr. 1836, p. 51 P. mahali. 



1837. Agrophilus, Swains. B. W. Afr. i. 



1837, p. 209 P. superciliosus. 



1837. Leucophrys, Swains. Class. B. ii. 



1837, p. 287, fig. 262 (head) .... P. inahali. 

 1851. Philagrus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. 1851, 



p. 179 P. mahali. 



The present genus shows, perhaps, slight affinities to 

 Sporopipes in its style of colouring. The latter is the sole 

 character on which I ' have separated it from Ploceus, to 

 which it is undoubtedly very closely allied. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Crown rufous. Rump and upper tail-coverts 



brown 110. P. superciliosus. 



b. Crown blackish. Eump and upper tail-coverts 



white. 

 6\ With no trace of spots on the throat. 

 V^. Eyebrows, breast, and white on wing- 

 coverts slightly shaded with buff. The 

 white ends to the greater coverts nar- 

 rower 111. P. mahaJi. 



c". With no shade of buft' on the white 



portions of the plumage. The white [^i-hijnchus, 



ends to the greater coverts broader . . Subsp. 112. P. melanu- 

 c\ With blackish spots on the throat and 

 crop. 

 (P. Bill black. Spots on the throat darker 113. P. pectoralis. 

 e^. Bill pale brown. Spots on the throat 



less distinct 114. P. p7'apinQuaius. 



