AND SOME ALLIED GENERA. 235 



Heuglin in February 1863 and received under the name 

 of P. xanthopygos. 



This species is distinguished from P. capensis by its 

 white breast, abdomen and flanks, and the black eyelids. 

 The two above mentioned specimens from the Bar el Grha- 

 zal agree in every respect with Hartlaub's short diagnosis 

 and also with the figure on pi. VII, given by Sharpe in 

 P. Z. S. 1871, and with the description in the above 

 quoted work of Reichenow's. 



After a conscientious study of the literature and the 

 materials at my disposal , I feel convinced that this species 

 interbreeds with its northern congener P. barbatus as well 

 as with its southern neighbour P. nigricans. The result 

 of the interbreeding with P. barbatus in the places where 

 both species occur in common, is the form described by Sharpe 

 as P. gabonensis , which is characterized by having the white 

 under tail-coverts more or less strongly tinged with yellow. 



From the typical P. nigricans^ our species differs in ha- 

 ving the head brown instead of black, in the pure white 

 breast and abdomen and in having the iris dark brown 

 instead of red , and the eyelid black instead of orauge red. 



Barboza du Bocage, Orn. d'Ang. p. 242, in treating 

 of P. nigricans , tells us that amongst numerous individu- 

 als from Angola there are only two which fully agree 

 with the types of P. nigricans, while in all the others the 

 head is not black , but scarcely darker brown than the 

 back , and the eyelid black instead of orange red , so that 

 these specimens make the impression to belong rather to 

 P. tricolor than to P. nigricans^ and I should say that 

 they really belong to P. tricolor. 



The occurrence of both forms in the same localities has 

 caused some doubts as to the specific distinctness of the 

 two forms, and Prof. Bocage does not decide whether the 

 black head , yellow eyelid and red iris are merely the 

 characteristicals of the adult male in breeding plumage or 

 those of a distinct species. 



With the aid of some specimens of both sexes , collected 



Notes from the Leyclen Museum, Vol. XVII. 



