PHILETAIRUS 129 
district, where the range of the present species and that of 
A. fasciata meet, for to the latter belongs an immature bird, 
procured by Frank Oates at the Tati River. 
Genus Il. PHITLETATRUS. 
Bill rather long and compressed at the sides, but slightly swollen at the 
nostrils ; culmen rounded and gently curved, extending back in an acute 
angle on the forehead; keel slightly curved upwards; cutting edge of the 
upper mandible waved, with an inclination to a tooth near the gape; nasal 
openings exposed just in front of the frontal feathers. Wing pointed, the 
tenth quill falling short of the tip by the length of the tarsus; primaries 
1 short, narrow and pointed; 2, 3 and 4 the longest. Tail square. Tarsus 
strong; feet moderate. Sexes alike in plumage, no portion red. 
Type. 
Philetairus, Smith in Charlesw. Mag. N. H. i. p. 536 (1837) P. sociws. 
Pseudonigrita, Reichen. J. f.O.1903,p.149 . . . . . P. arnaudi. 
The genus is confined to Tropical and South Africa, and comprises five 
species. In 1789 William Paterson gave the name of Social Grosbeak to 
the typical species of the genus, on account of its wonderful habit of erecting 
a whole colony of nests under one thatched roof, so I employ the name of 
Social-Waxbill for all the members of this genus. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
a. Under parts brown; crown brown or greyish white. 
a1, Bill pale brown; back of neck and flanks blackish, with 
narrow buff edges to the feathers; crown brown . . . socius. 
b1, Bill black; no black on the neck or flanks. 
a®?. Crown greyish white. 
a, A black band across the tail; back browner . . . . arnaudi. 
ae No black band across the tail; back greyer . . . . dorsalis. 
. Crown pale brown, like the back. . . emit. 
b. ca parts white, with black on the funke.) upper half of 
head black; billpale. . . .. . ; cabanisi. 
(October, 1904, 9 
