Species of FnngiWidsQ from the Transvaal. 209 



iippersiJe and the reddish tint of the plumage, especially 

 on the head, remind us of the Pijronielana group/' 



I therefore propose Heliospiza as the generic name, 

 and will describe this very distinct species as Heliospiza 

 NOOME^, gen. et spec, nov., in honour of Mrs. Noome, who 

 with her hushand has been fortunate and kind enouoh to 

 procure many a rare and interesting specimen for our 

 Museum. 



Heliospiza, gen. nov. 



Beak laterally compressed and high, culmon narrow, more 

 strongly curved than in Anomalospiza ; the mandible is 

 narrower than in that genus and bent downwards in an angle 

 at the posterior end. Length of the tail less than two-thirds 

 than that of the wing. First primary lanceolate and more 

 distinct than in Anomalospiza', the second and fifth primaries 

 a little shorter than in that genus. Tail strongly rounded; 

 the middle tail-feathers lanceolate towards the tip. 



Heliospiza noome^e, sp. nov. 



Forehead yellow-brown with a tinge of chestnut; crown 

 and nape of the same yellow-brown, with black centres to 

 the feathers, narrower near the forehead and broadening 

 towards the neck, producing a strongly streaked appearance; 

 a yellow-brown streak over the eye, broadening immediately 

 behind the eye and narrowing over the ear-coverts, which 

 are yellow-brown finely streaked with black; cheeks darker 

 yellow-brown; chin and throat paler, which colour extends 

 over the whole of the underside, with black streaks on the 

 sides and centre of the breast and on the flanks, stronger in 

 the female than the male. Back mottled with yellow-brown 

 and black, the centres of all the feathers being black, the 

 broad margins yellow-brown. Wings bi-own ; the first primary 

 very distinct and lanceolate, the other primaries with narrow 

 yellowish-brown margins on the outer webs, lighter towards 

 the tips, where the margins are dirty white; secondaries 

 brown-black, with broad yellow-brown margins round the 

 inner and outer webs, paler on the inner webs. Wing- 



