FOUDIA BRUANTE 



Foudia bruante. 



FringiUa bruante, P. Z. S. MiiU. S. N. Suppl. p. 164 (1776) Reunion. 

 Emberiza fuscofulva, Bodd. Tabl. PI. Enl. p. 20 (1783). 

 Nesacanthis fuscofulva, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 484, note (1890). 

 Embenza borbouica, Gm. S. N. i. p. 886 (1788). 



The Bourbon Fodj was a native of the Island of Reunion, 

 but is now apparently extinct. 



In the " Catalogue of Bii'ds in the British Museum," Dr. 

 Sharpe writes : " This species seems to be extinct, *;/'. Sir E. 

 Newton (Trans. Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Soc. 1889, p. 54.3). 

 It has generally been considered identical with Foudia mnda- 

 gascarieiisis ." I can see no special reason for believing that 

 identification to be incorrect ; but as the type apparently no 

 longer exists we are not likely to know anything more 

 about it. 



Foudia aldabrana. 



Foudia aldabrana, Ridgway, Proc. U. S. Mus. xvi. p. 598 (1893) 

 Aldabra Isl. 



Neshyphantes aldabranus, Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 502 (1896). 



Type. Similar to F. madagascariensis, but very much larger. Total 

 length 6-5 inches, culmen 0-75, wing 3-3, tail 2-1, tarsus 0-92., <? , ad. 

 5. 10. 92, Aldabra Isl. (Abbott). 



The Aldabra Fody inhabits the island of that name. 



The species was discovered by Dr. Abbott on the Island 

 of Aldabra, which lies in the Pacific Ocean about 250 miles 

 North-west of the northern extremity of Madagascar, and 

 500 miles from Zanzibar. The species is known to me only by 

 the description of the type, but the measurement of the 

 wing, 3'3 inches, readily distinguishes it from its nearest 

 ally, which has a wing measurement of 2'G5. 



