to the Cape Verde Islands. 85 



big untidy nest-structures of the previous season. On the 

 plains they feed on small locusts and grass-seed. 



13. ESTRILDA JAGOENSIS Sp. nOV. 



We found this species among the sugar-cane in large 

 flocks, which keep up a continual twittering while on the 

 wing. Altogether, in their behaviour and notes, they 

 resemble the Lesser Redpoll. This bird is locally known as 

 the "■ Sugar-cane bird.'' Thinking that this species was 

 merely Estrilda c'merea, as recorded by Dohrn, we unfortu- 

 nately did not pay much attention to it beyond obtaining 

 one specimen. 



Adult male. Most nearly allied to Estrilda astrild; but 

 the general colour of the upper parts is grey, especially on 

 the head and neck, and without any trace of I'ufous-brown. 

 The chin and throat are pure white, slightly dusky on the 

 cheeks, which show faint traces of darker bars ; the ground- 

 colour of the rest of the underparts is paler and greyer. 

 Middle of the breast and belly pale rose-red; tail dark 

 brownish black and considerably shorter than in E. astrild. 



Total length (measured in flesh) 4"1 inches, culmen 0*38, 

 wing 1'9, tail 1*8, tarsus 0*6. 



14. Ammomanes cinctura (Gould). 



By no means plentiful, and locally distributed on the 

 stretches of high tableland near the sea. More than a 

 week elapsed before we noticed this species, and then only 

 two birds, on a piece of loose gravelly land near Pray a. 

 This pair had a nest containiog one young bird, almost 

 fledged. On approaching the nest the two old birds, which 

 were not far off, ran at a rapid rate towards their young one, 

 the male bird uttering the whole time a plaintive " wheel J'' 



Though we discovered more of this species later on, I 

 never heard them utter more than this one note. They were 

 always seen either singly or in pairs. Seven specimens were 

 obtained. 



15. Pyrrhulauda nigriceps Gould. 



Locally distributed on the island and becoming less 

 plentiful in its northern portion. It frequents the stretches 



