AMBLYOSPIZA ALBIFRONS 303 



Type. 



Amblyospiza, Sundev. Q3fv. K. Ak. Forh. Stockh. April, 



1850, p. 98 A. albifrons. 



Coryphegnathus, Reichenb. Syst. Av. pi. 79, fig. 6 (June, 



1850) A. albifrons. 



The genus is confined to Tropical and South Africa, and comprises four 

 species, three of which are very near allies. It is well marked by the 

 powerful bill, but especially by the culmen extending abnormally far back, 

 and also by the white speculum on the primaries. This latter character, 

 however, also occurs in Dincmellia, and both these genera have the bill, 

 from in front of the frontal feather, somewhat similarly shaped ; they, how- 

 ever, differ greatly in their breeding habits. The Amblyospiza construct 

 neatly woven nests in reed-beds, and the Dincmellia: place theirs in thorn- 

 trees, and protect them with a surrounding of thorny boughs, giving them 

 the outward appearance of Magpies' nests. 



a. A clear white patch at base of primaries Males. 



a^. Forehead white. 



a". Head and neck not mostly cinnamon. 



«*. Head and neck mostly rufous shaded dark 



brown albifrons, J , ad. ;.^ j 



Z)3. Head and neck mostly blackish unicolor, 3 , ad. >^. ^ 



b". Head and neck mostly cinnamon. 



c^. Breast blacker ; white frontal patch not extend- 

 ing back beyond the base of the culmen . . mclanota, <? , ad. , , 

 d^. Breast ashy grey ; white frontal patch much 



larger capitalba, 3 , ad. 



h^. No white forehead Immature males. 



b. No white patch on primaries, no white forehead ; under 



parts white, with broad brown stripes Females. 



Amblyospiza albifrons. 



Pyrrhula albifrons. Vigors, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 92 Algoa Bay. 

 Amblyospiza albifrons, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 501 (1890) ; Shelley, 

 Ibis, 1893, p. 25 ; 1894, pp. 20, 470 ; 1898, p. 554 Ntjasa ; id. B. 

 Afr. I. No. 454 (1896); Shortridge, Ibis, 1904, p. 177 Pondoland ; 

 Reichen. Vog. Afr. iii. p. 98 (1904). 

 Pyrrhula frontalis. Swains. .\n. in Menag. p. 319 (1838). 

 Pyrenestes frontalis. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. Aves, pis. 61, 02 (1810). 

 Coryphegnathus schiffi, Bp. Consp. i. p. 451 {1850) juc. 

 Adult male. Forehead white, remainder of the head, neck and mantle, 

 deep chocolate brown, shading almost into black on the wings, lower back 

 and tail ; basal portion of the quills white, forming a well-marked speculum 

 on the primaries ; feathers of the back, upper tail-coverts and wings, 



