POLIOSPIZA. 225 



The White-throated Brown Canary inhabits South Africa. 

 All that is known regarding this species is that the type was 

 procured by Layavd while he was in South Africa, and is 

 apparently a full grown bird, with no indication of its not 

 having assumed its full plumage, but having neither sex, date 

 nor locality marked on the label : it may have been a cage-bird 

 with the colouring of the plumage affected by the nature of the 

 food and general conditions under which it lived. 



It is extremely common in Africa to meet with very nearly 

 allied forms inhabiting neighbouring districts, which are 

 separated as species on the strength of a single specimen. A 

 large series may, or may not, prove these differences to be of 

 specific value, but I am bound to recognise such forms as species 

 where there is a want of material to base an opinion upon. 



Genus V. POLIOSPIZA. 



Bill more slender than that of Serums and very like that of Passer, the 

 sides from the gape being nearly straight with a very slight uniform curve 

 throughout their length. Nostrils hidden. Wing, tail, tarsi and feet very 

 similar in the three genera. Nest cup-shaped and placed on a branch. 

 Plumage brown and white with a broad white eyebrow ; sexes similar in 

 plumage ; young birds with stripes on the under parts. 



Tyjje. 

 PoHospiza, Bp. Consp. i. p. 519 (1850) P. gularis. 



This genus comprises four species, all of which are confined to tropical 

 and South Africa. 



It is no easy matter to fiud a good English name for a bird, and it is 

 worse than useless to propose one that is not likely to be generally adopted. 

 I suggest to call the members of this genus Seed-eaters, the oldest name I 

 can find for them. They are no more Canaries than Sparrows, but nearly 

 intermediate. 



[May, 1902. 13 



