166 SPERMESTES NIGRICEPS 
With regard to its ranging into Central Africa, specimens - 
have been collected by Emin in the Ukonju country, to the 
north of the Albert Kdward Nyanza, and at Bukoba on the 
Victoria Nyanza, Dr. Stuhlmann also found it on Sesse 
Island. ‘lo the latter specimens Dr. Reichenow has given 
the name S. stigmatophorus, but from the description it does 
not differ from the Fernando Po types, and as he includes 
under that new name the Camaroons birds, I cannot even 
recognise it as a local variety, yet Dr. Hartert uses it for 
Dr. Ansorge’s specimen from the Ituri River. 
Spermestes nigriceps. 
Spermestes nigriceps, Cass. Proc. Philad. Acad. 1852, p. 185 Zanzibar ; 
Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 263 (1890); Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 383 
(1896); Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 125 (1899) egg; Reichen. Vog. 
Afr, ii. p. 153 (1904). 
Spermestes rufodorsalis, Peters, J. f. O. 1863, p. 401 Inhambane. 
Amadina punctipennis, Biane. Spec. Zool. Mozamb. fase. xviii. p. 328, 
pl. 4, fig. 1 (1867). 
Subspecies a. 
Spermestes nigriceps minor, Erlanger, Orn. Monatsb. 1903, p. 22 Fanole ; 
Reichen. Vog. Afr, ui. p. 154 (1904). 
Adult. Similar to S. poensis in the colouring of the head, rump, upper 
tail-coverts, most of the wing, and the entire under parts, but differs in the 
hinder neck gradually passing into chestnut, which colour extends over the 
upper and middle back, the scapulars and inner secondaries. ‘‘ Iris brown; 
bul bluish slate; legs dark.” ‘Lotal length 3°5 inches, culmen 0-4, wing 2:0, 
tail 1-4, tarsus 0°56. g, 7.4.00. Nairobe (Delamere). 
Type of S. nigriceps nunor. Is said to differ from the above only in its 
smaller size. Wing 1:72 to 1:8. Somali. 
The Rufous-backed Mannikin inhabits Kastern Africa from 
Natal to the Equator, and a small race inhabits Somaliland. 
The species is rare in Africa south of 10° 8. lat., being 
known to me from Natal by a single specimen, obtained by 
Mr. '. L. Ayres, at Durban, in August one procured by 
Mr. Cavendish in the Chiroma district of South Mozambique, 
