Birds of Fernando Po. 355 



23. MELANOrTERYX MAXWELLI. 



Melanopteryx nigerrimm Bocage (nee Vieill.), Jorn. Lisl). 

 (2) iv. p. 10 (1895: Fernando Po) ; id. op. cit. vii. p. 37 

 (1903) ; Salvad, Orn. Golfo d. Guinea, iii. p. 114. 



Melanopteryx maxwelli Alexander, Bull. B. O. C. xiii. p. 54 

 (1903). 



Adult. Similar to M. albhiucha, but with the base of the 

 feathers grey instead of white. Upper parts, throat, and 

 breast jet-black, not brownish black; legs and feet brownish 

 black ; iris lemon-coloured ; bill black. {Type, ad. <$ . 

 Ribola, Oct. 31, 1902.) 



Total length 5'6 inches, culmen 07, wing 3, tail 2, tarsus 

 075. 



The sexes are alike in plumage and measurements. 



Immature male. General colour above sooty-brown, with 

 traces of yellowish-olive edges to the feathers of the hind- 

 neck and crown, the latter mottled with black ; sides of head 

 and under parts pale yellowish olive, inclining to whitish on 

 the under tail-coverts ; thighs light brown : bill horn-brown ; 

 legs and feet dark brown. 



Immature female. Similar to immature male, but with no 

 yellowish edges to the feathers of the hind-neck and crown ; 

 sides of neck and under parts ashy white, inclining to pale 

 tawny on the abdomen and under tail-coverts ; outer edges 

 of secondaries and quills ashy white : iris pale green; legs 

 and feet light brown. 



This species is a good intermediate form between M. ni- 

 gerrbna and M. albhiucha. It differs from the former in 

 being smaller, in the jet-black of the upper parts, throat, and 

 breast, and in the brownish-black legs and feet. 



We found this Weaver-bird on the lowlands frequenting 

 the woods, where it nests in small colonies, the tops of thick- 

 leaved forest-trees being chosen as nesting-sites. The note 

 is a running chatter. The following specimens were ob- 

 tained : — 



a. Ad. <J. Basupu, Oct. 29, 1902. 



b. Ad. ? . Type. Ribola, Oct. 81, 1902. 

 c.M.S- Type. Ribola, Oct. 31, 1902. 



2a2 



