1917-] Recently published Ornithological Works. 437 



The Ploceinse or Weaver-birds proper lack the moutli-marks 

 and the gape-wattles in the nestlings ; they weave their nests, 

 which are pensile and generally rounded or retort-shaped, 

 often with a funnel-like opening ; the eggs are usually 

 coloured and spotted ; and the outer primary is very 

 generally longer than the primary-coverts. To this group 

 belong the true Weavers, the Whydahs, and Bishop- 

 birds. 



The position of Philefairus, which builds the extraordinary 

 social nests in the drier parts of South Africa and which 

 is sometimes included among the Finches, is discussed. 

 Mr. Chapin is inclined, on the whole, to include it among 

 the Pioceidffi, notwithstanding its very tiny concealed outer 

 primary, resembling that of the Fringillidse, and places it 

 near Ploceipasser in the subfamily Ploceinse. 



Another genus whose position is considered is Parmoptila, 

 which is confined to the West African subregion. The 

 members of this genus, four in number, are small and 

 inconspicuous, and have slender bills. Sharpe in the 

 Catalogue referred them to the Dicaeidse, but in the Hand- 

 list followed Shelley in placing them in the Sylviidae, while 

 Reichenow placed them with the Titmice. Mr. Chapin, who 

 has been fortunate enough to observe P. jamesoni alive in 

 the Congo forest, is convinced that this genus should be 

 referred to the Ploceidse and that it should be put near 

 Nigrita among the Estrildinse, and he was further confirmed 

 in his opinion by finding that the nestling had a spotted 

 mouth as well as gape-wattles. 



An appendix contains a survey of the characters of each 

 of the Ploceid genera, so far as is at present known. No 

 worker on African Ornithology can atford to neglect this 

 most interesting and suggestive paper, but at the same time 

 it must be pointed out, as the author himself admits, that 

 our knowledge of the facts about many of the rarer genera 

 is at present very scanty, and a great deal more investigation 

 must be undertaken before his conclusions can be universally 

 accepted. 



