872 PTiOCEEDTNClS OF THE NATIONAL MVSEint. vol. xxviit. 



2. Melignothes conirostris ussheri (Sli(irpi'). 



Liiliratur ii.ssIutI Siiaki>k, Hull. Hiit. Orii. Clul), XJl, IHOi", p. SO ( FiiiiltT, west- 

 ern Africa. 



G<'Oi]i'ap}i'tc(il (listi'ihution. -(\o\i\ Coast, westoni Alrica. 



This recently (iescri))ed form is the iiortheni repi-esi'iitative of covl- 

 rfMfris, and ai)i)ai'ently only a su))s})eeies. It diti'ers chietly in the 

 more o-olden oli\e cast of th(^ |)ileum and the rather ])aler lower i)arts. 

 The \vini>- lenuth g-i\en by Doctoi' Shai'pe" — -t.tJo inches (117 mm.) 

 is evidently a mistake, possibly u slip for 8, Of) inches, as this dimen- 

 sion as o-i\en would make ii-^s/ki'! laro'cn* in lenyth of wing- than any 

 other honey-tiuid(\ with other mc^asurements dis])ro])()i'tionately small. 



3. Melignothes lovati ((irimi). 



Indicator lovati Gra^t, IJull. I>rit. Orii. Cluh, X, UKK), p. xxxix ((Telonjiol, south - 

 erti Abyssinia ) . 



Ge(K]niphical dif<f r/7>}/t ion. —Sonthovn Abyssinia. 



Apparently most nearly related to J/. eoiuroxtr!s^ possibly only su))- 

 specitically distinct, and distintiuishable by its o-rayish brown head 

 and cervix, toi>(^ther with tlu^ decidedly duller yellowish edgings of 

 back and wing-coverts. Mr. Neumann is probably wrong in treating 

 lovafi as !i sub.sp(»cies of ni/wrJ' 



4. Melignothes minor minor { Sit'/ihnix). 



7>i(IJca<or ?Hi»o)' Stkimiens, Shaw's Gen. Zodl., IX, 1S15, p. 140 (('ai)e of (iood 



Hope). 

 Indicator rii'mhnus Temminck, 1*1. (Y)l., Ill, 1822, j)l. dxlh, fi";. 1 (southern 



Africa). 

 Indicator buphagoidrs Leadbeatkh, Trans. Linn. Soc. LomL, XVI, 1S20, p. 91 



(interior of Africa) . 

 Indicator apirorns Lichtensteix, Nomencl. Av., LS54, p. 78 [notncn nudum). 



( J eographical dhfrihutlon. — Southern Africa, north to Damara Land 

 and pr()ba))ly at least the Zamljesi River. 



The much paler, less variegated up[)ci parts, light basal portion of 

 the mandible, much paler, more brownish lower parts, and white or 

 ))rownish white lower wing-coverts easily distinguish this species from 

 j\L'l!(inothe!< conirostris. The noi'thcu'n limit of its distribiition in 

 eastern Africa, as well as the area of its inosculation with J/, minor 

 (liadcnidtiis, remain to be determined. The name Indicator hipha- 

 (/oic/cs'' apparently is, as commonly regarded, a synonym of ncinor^ 

 though it is based on a bird with a bill sominvhat too small, if thei'e 

 be no mist:d<e in tlu^ measurement as recorded in the original 

 description. 



5. Melignothes minor diadematus (/.'»/(/>(//). 



Indicator diadeniatus Kuppeli,, Ni'uc W'ii'l). Faun. Abyys., \'('igel, 18;>n, p. 01 



(wooded region of Abyssinia). 

 Indicator minor feitenf^is Naumann, Journ. f. Oruitli., 1000, p. 195 (Bura, Teita, 



British pjast Africa). 



Geographical dint rihut ion. — (xerman East Africa north to Somali 

 Land, Abyssinia, and Bongo in the southeastern Sudan. 



"ISull. Brit. Orn. Club, XII, 1002. p. SO. 



''Journ. f. Oniith., 1904, p. 384. 



'Leailbcatcr, Trans. Lin:i. Soc. bond., Wl, bS29, \^. 91. 



