On Changes of Phnnaye in Tyjncal Weaver-birds. 359 



task of excavating very arduous, and the work was frequently 

 interrupted for days at a time through the growing hostility 

 of the natives. Dr. Forsyth Major and his companion, 

 M. Robert, arc therefore the more to be congratulated that, 

 under such unfavourable conditions, they have added so 

 much to our knowledge of the extinct fauna of Central 

 Madagascar. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



Plate VITI. 

 Eemains of Centrornis majori (p. 344), 

 Fig. \. Plight tibio-tarsus, from front (figured in two halves). 



2. Right tibio-tarsus, distal articulation. 



3. Right femur, from front. 



4. Right metatarsus, from front. 



5. Left coracoid, upper end. 



6. Left scapula. 



7. Right metacarpus, proximal portion. 



All the figures are of the natural size, and, with the exception of the 

 metatarsus, are drawn from the type specimens. The dotted outlines re 

 drawn from more perfect bones. 



Plate IX. 



Fig. 1. Skull of Cheiudopex sirahensis (p. 355). 



2. Metacarpus of ditto. 



3. Metatarsus of ditto. 



4. Tribonyx roherti (p. 356). Pelvis, from above. 



5. Ditto. Pelvis, from side. 



6. ? Ditto. Left tibio-tarsus. 



7. ? Ditto. Left femur. 



8. Flotus nanus (p. 358). Left humerus. 



All the figures are of the natural size. In figs. 4 and 5 the dotted 

 outlines are drawn from the opposite side. 



XXVII. — On Changes of Plumage in some of the Typical 

 Weaver-birds. By A. Gr. Butler, Ph.D. 



About the year T888 I purchased two pairs of the so-called 

 Red-billed Weaver-bird {Quelea quelea) and a male of Russ's 

 Weaver (^Quelea russi), and turned them out together in one 



