170 THE PINCHES AND WEAVER BIRDS OF THE SUDAN 



with vinous-pink. Rump, and some edgings to the tail feathers, crimson. A " mask," 

 including the sides of the head and the whole throat, black. Front of chest vinous- 

 red ; sides the same, with small white spots. Centre of chest and abdomen black. 

 The female is a browner bird, with no black on the face, and only faintly tinged with 

 vinous. Antiuori obtained it on the Upper White Nile and in Kordofan. I found 

 it numerous at Gallabat in April, 1903, and also have a pair from Eoseires. 

 Genus : Lagonosticta 



50. Lagonosticta melanogastra, Heugl. (Heuglin's Black-bellied Fire-finch). 

 Length, 4 inches ; wing, 1'9. Mostly crimson. Centre of breast, abdomen, thighs, 

 and under tail coverts black. No white spots on the breast. In the female a great 

 deal of the crimson is replaced by ashy or brown. Heugliu discovered it in the 

 Bahr-El-Ghazal. Emin procured it at Lado, and Antiuori in Kordofan and Sennar. 

 I have never met with it. 



51. Lagonosticta butleri, Grant (Butler's Fire-finch). Length, 4'4 inches; wing, 

 2-2. Known only from two females which I obtained at Chak Chak. Above earthy- 

 brown ; rump and tail washed with crimson. Chin and throat grey; chest grey with 

 a pinkish tinge, and a few small white spots. Remainder of underparts pale pinkish- 

 brown. 



52. Lagonosticta hrunneiceps, Sharpe (Brown-naped Fire-finch). Length, 3 inches; 

 wing, 2. Upper parts brown washed with crimson, and brightening into crimson on 

 the forehead, sides of the crown and rump. Face and underparts crimson, shading 

 into brown under the tail. A few white spots on the sides of the chest. Female 

 mostly brown, with the rump crimson. Widely distributed from Dongola and Berber 

 southwards on the Blue and White Niles, and in the Kassala and Kordofan Provinces. 

 A charmingly pretty and fearless little bird, frequenting gardens, and entering 

 verandahs freely to drink from " zeers." 



53. i((.(/o«osi/cia 7"M/o2>tcia, Fraser (Bar-breasted Fire-finch). Length, 3-7 inches; 

 wing, 1'85. Above dark brown, rump dull crimson. Forehead and underparts pinkish- 

 crimson, shading into brown on centre of chest and abdomen. The chest marked 

 with very small white bars. Occurs on the Upper Nile and in the Bahr-El-Ghazal. 

 My specimens are from Bor and Kenisa. 



54. Lagonosticta rhodopsis, Heugl. (Heuglin's Dusky Fire-finch). Length, 3'8 

 inches; wing, 1-85. Dusky, ash-coloured, rump crimson, tail black. Eyebrows, 

 cheeks, and chin washed with rosy. Known only from Heuglin's description of a pair 

 from the Bahr-El-Ghazal. It has been suggested that they may have been only 

 immature examples of L. hrunneiceps. 



Genus: Pytelia 



55. Pytelia phccnicoptera, Swains (Black-billed Red-winged Pytelia). Length, 

 4'8 inches; wing, 2-3. Above brownish-grey, rump scarlet; tail black, with margins 

 washed with red. Wings brown, with crimson on outer edges of the quills and bend. 

 Face, chin, and throat grey ; remainder of underparts grey with white bars, widest 

 towards the tail. Bill black. Recorded from the Bahr-El-Ghazal by Heuglin, and 

 from Lado by Emin. Apparently rare. 



56. Pytelia lineafa, Heugl. (Red-billed Red-winged Pytelia). Length, 4-7 inches; 

 wing, 2-3. Very like the last, but with the bill red. An Abyssinian bird, occurring 

 between the Upper Blue Nile and the Atbara. Scarce. I have one pair from Eoseires. 



57. Pytelia ciferior, Strickl. (Senegal Red-faced Pytelia). Length, 4-6 inches; 

 wing, 2-2. Above yellowish-olive, with the top of the head grey, the rump scarlet, 



