262 BLACK-HOODED WEAVER. 



Total length nearly 6 inches ; bill, gape, ; 

 front, T % ; wings, 2 T % ; tail beyond, 1^ ; base, 2 T 5 ^ ; 



tarsus, T 8 5 ; hind toe and claw, i ; middle ditto, 



s 

 To* 



RUFOUS CROWDED WEAVER. 



Ploceus ruficeps, SWAIXS. 



Yellow, brighter beneath ; crown of the head and fore part 

 of the throat rufous ; chin, ears, and frontal line black. 



FOR an inspection of this new species of Weaver, 

 we are indebted to Assistant Commissary-General 

 Weir, who, on his return from the Gambia, obli- 

 gingly sent for our examination a considerable col- 

 lection of the birds of that country. 



Although very small in comparison with the 

 other species of true Ploceus, its whole structure and 

 cast of colours places it close to Ploceus textor and 

 the other two new species here described. 



General plumage deep and full yellow, tinged 

 with green from the nape downwards, but bright on 

 the sides of the neck and on all the under plumage. 

 A black patch covers the chin, the ears, and the 

 sides of the head, and is continued in front by a 

 very narrow line ; in this patch the eye is situated- 

 The fore part of the head and crown is deep rufous, 



