SYCOBROTUS TEPHRONOTUS 371 



is at present known only from Camaroons and Fernando Po, 

 so we should not be justified in using the name Ploceus hicolor, 

 Vieill., for either of them without comparing the type, which 

 I believe has been lost. 



Sycobrotus tephronotus. 



Symplectes tephronotus, Eeichen. J. f. O. 1892, pp. 18i, 219 Buea. 

 Sycobrotus tephronotus, Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 506 (1896). 

 Ploceus tephronotus, Eeichen. Vog. Afr. iii. p, .31, pi. , fig. 3 (1901). 

 Sycobrotus poensis, Alexander, Bull. B. 0. C. xiii. p. 38 (1903) 

 Fernando Po. 



Adults. Very similar to S. aniMirocephalus, from which they differ in 

 the top and sides of the head being deeper black and contrasting more 

 sharply with the back of the neck, which is of a grey shade like the 

 remainder of the upper parts. Total length about 5-7 inches, culmen 0-7 to 

 0-75, wing 3-3, tail 2-3, tarsus 0-9. S, 15. 11. 02, Fernando Po (Alexander), 

 and 21. 9. 91, Buea (Preuss). 



The Camaroons Dark-backed Weaver inhabits Camaroons 

 and Fernando Po. 



The type was discovered by Dr. Preuss at Buea in the 

 highlands of Camaroons and the species has also been recorded 

 from Jaunde (Zenker). 



From Fernando Po Mr. Boyd Alexander writes : " We 

 found this species frequenting the thick forest-trees. It 

 appeared to be very local and was generally observed in small 

 parties. The note may be described as a running voluble 

 'tizz.' " 



Sycobrotus mentalis. 



Symplectes mentalis, Hartl. J. f. O. 1891, p. 314 Binjiicra. 

 Ploceus mentalis, Eeichen. Ytig. Afr. iii. p. 35 (1901). 



Siibsjiccics a. 

 Sycobrotus nandensis, Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 615 Nandi. 

 Ploceus nandensis, Eeichen. Yog. Afr. iii, p. 35 (1904). 



