352 Mr. Boyd Alexander on the 



The sexes are alike in plumage and measurements. 



A local species and only met with in the locality of Bakaki. 

 We observed it in small flocks frequenting the more open 

 spots overgrown with long grass. The parties consisted 

 chiefly of young birds. 



18. Nesocharis shelleyi. 



Nesocharis shelleyi Alexander, Bull. B. O. C. xiii. p. 48 

 (1903) ; Salvad. Orn. Golfo d. Guinea, iii. p. 112. 



This new genus belongs to the same group as Spermestes 

 and Gryptospiza, but differs in having a much weaker and 

 more compressed bill ; culmen slightly curved. Tail entirely 

 black, very short and rounded, and not extending beyond the 

 outsti^etched feet. Wing rounded; 3rd, 4th, and 5th primaries 

 longest, 2nd equal to the 7th; 1st very small, narrow, and 

 sharply pointed. Upper tail-coverts olive-yellow like the 

 back ; neck and entire breast grey. 



The adult bird may be described as follows : — Entire 

 head and upper half of the throat jet-black ; neck, breast, 

 and remainder of under parts French grey; remainder of 

 upper parts yellowish olive, becoming brighter on the rump 

 and upper tail-coverts ; wing-coverts like the back ; quills 

 and secondaries blackish brown, edged with yellowish olive ; 

 tail-feathers black ; under wing-coverts and inner edges of 

 quills white : bill bluish slate-colour ; legs and feet brownish. 

 Length 3*1 inches, culmen 032, wing 17, tail 1*2, tarsus 05. 

 {Type. Moka, December 12, 1902.) 



This species was not found in the northern part of the 

 island, but was discovered by my collector on the Moka 

 highlands. It appears to be rare, since only two specimens 

 were observed and obtained, which were frequenting the tops 

 of tall thick-leaved trees. 



The species has been named after Capt. G. E. Shelley. 



19. Spermestes poensis (Fraser). 



Amadina poensis Fraser, P. Z. S. 1812, p. 145 (Clarence, 

 Fernando Po) ; Allen & Thomson, Narr. Exped. Niger, ii. 

 p. 500 (1848 : Fernando Po) ; Fraser, Zool. Typ. pi. 1. 

 fig. 1 (1849). 



Spermestes poensis Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 154 (1850 : 



