1918.] the Birds of the Anglo- Egyptian Suda.i. 461 



in A. macmillani and is partially covered over with creamy- 

 coloured feather-tips which look as if they might wear 

 off later in the year, leaving a pure pale yellow under- 

 surface. 



Type, a male, collected on 8/iv./15 at Kajo Kaji, Lado 

 Enclave, by A. L. Butler, B.M Keg. no. 1915/1 2/24/1781. 



Measurements of type : wing 63, tail 39, culmen 12, 

 tarsus 17 mm. 



The female appears to be identical with that of A. mac- 

 m^7/a^^^■, except that it is slightly smaller. The wings of three 

 examples measure 64, 64, and 67 mm., while that of the 

 female of A. macmillani measures 68 mm., not 65 as stated 

 by Bannerman. The wings of the males measure 64 to 

 65 mm., except two which are larger, 68 and 69 mm. 



The whole of this fine series was taken in April, and there 

 are indications that they are in an intermediate plumage, 

 between a winter and a summer dress. We are strongly of 

 opinion that when the summer dress is fully assumed, this 

 form will differ from A. macinillatii only in its slightly 

 smaller dimensions. 



As there are so few examples of this genus in Museum 

 collections and so little is known about these birds, we 

 propose to name it as a species provisionally. 



Mr. Butler states in litt. : — " I found Anomalospiza in 

 big flocks — habits just like Pyrumelana with which they 

 associate more or less. The mouth in fresh birds is remark- 

 able. The sides oP the lower mandible are dilated inwards 

 so as tu form two broad horny pads occupying most of the 

 floor of the mouth with a narrow groove for the very small 

 tongue between them. In the centre of the palate there is 

 a corresponding narrow groove for the tongue to fit into, 

 and on each side near the gape a hard circular hollow into 

 which the crushing pads on the lower mandible fit.'^ 



It would be most interesting to know whether any similar 

 structure is to be found in any other members of the families 

 Ploceidse or Fringillidie. 



Ogilvie-Grant (Ibis, 1913, p. 573) and Shelley (B. Afr. 

 iv. p. 108) have discussed the systematic position of this 



