60 Mr. W. Ayres on Birds collected in the 



is not the case either in the male of the present species 

 preserved in the British Museum, or in tlie females sent 

 by Mr. Ayres, one of which has also been placed in the 

 Museum. A very distinct species likewise received the 

 name of Sycobius ruhriceps from Reichenow, in the ' Journal 

 fiir Ornithologie ' for 1876, p. 209 ; but, according to the 

 law of priority, the name cannot be retained for the species 

 there described by Reichenow, which, moreover, seems to 

 me, by his description, to be identical with MaUmbus cassini 

 of Elliot, first described in ' The Ibis,' 1859, p. 392, and sub- 

 sequently figured in ' The Ibis,' 1876, pi. xiii., where a figure 

 of the male, in full plumage, of the true MaUmbus rubriceps, 

 taken from the male which is now in the British Museum, 

 is also given. — J. H. G.] 



Spermestes cucullatus. Swains. Hooded Dwarf Finch. 



Two males and two females, shot at Rovi-rand, 16th June, 

 1885. Eye brown; legs black; upper mandible black, 

 lower ash-colour. 



I found these little birds fairly plentiful in flocks, varying 

 from four or five to as many as fifteen in number ; they feed 

 on small seeds, and are generally found in low open bush 

 near water. They feed a good deal on the ground, though 

 . I have at times seen them on the top branches of high trees. 

 They are shy little birds, and when disturbed often fly quite 

 out of sight. 



[The specimens sent appear to have been obtained beyond 

 the Transvaal boundary. — J. H. G.] 



Lagonosticta senegala (Linn.). Little Ruddy Waxbill. 



1 found five of these little birds together at Rhinoster- 

 poort, and killed them all at one shot; they are generally 

 found in thick grass or scrub, and are fond of pecking about 

 on little patches of bare ground. The eye in this species is 

 red, and the eyelid yellow. The specimens sent were shot on 

 13th May, 1885, and I noticed several others subsequently. 



400. Chalcopelia afra (Linn.). Emerald-spotted Wood- 

 dove. 



Female, shot at Rovi-rand, 17th June, 1885. 



