

116 Scientific Intelligence. 



Primaries white at their bases, and for about one-third of their length, 

 Greater wing coverts also tipped with white, which, with that portion of 

 the primaries of the same color, forms a conspicuous white spot on the 

 wing. Lesser wing-coverts tipped with brown. All other parts of the 

 plumage glossy black. Bill light blue, at the edges of the mandibles 

 pearly white. Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to end of tail 

 about 65 inches, wing 3, tail 3 T 3 <yth inches. 



Hab. Port Natal, Eastern Africa. 



This bird belongs to that group of species which appears to form the 

 genus Coliuspasser, Riippel. From either of these species ( V.jlavop- 

 tcra, Viell. ; V. macrocerca, Licht. ; V. axillaris, A. Smith and others) 

 it may readily be distinguished by the white spot on the wing, and the 

 pearly character of the bill. 



Three specimens of this interesting species are included in the many 

 valuable acquisitions of the Academy made through the judicious exer- 

 tions of Mr. Edward Wilson, who secured them in Paris. 



Vidua concolor, nobis. — Plumage entirely black. Bill strong, con- 

 ical. General form and appearance of Vidua payanensis, Gm., (V. 

 rubritorques, Svvainson,) but the bill is larger, and the tail and wing 

 feathers are broader, with no vestige whatever of the red collar which 

 characterizes that species. Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to 

 end of tail about 12 inches, wing 2^; tail 83 inches. 



Hab. Africa. 



Of this species, one specimen only is in the Rivoli collection, with- 

 out label. It is closely allied to the Vidua ruhritorques, Svvainson, but 

 has the bill larger than either of ten specimens of the latter which I 

 have examined. The entire absence of the red collar is, however, the 

 most striking comparative character. 



Eitplcctes nigroventris, nobis. — Entire upper parts of the plumage 

 bright scarlet, except the wings and tail, which are hair-brown, with 

 paler margins. Cheeks and entire under parts (from the base of the 

 bill) deep black, except the thighs and under tail coverts, which are 

 pale reddish-white. 



Hab. Zanzibar. 



Total length from tip of bill to end of tail, about 4£ inches, wing 

 2-^ths, tail Li inches. 



This 6pecies, one specimen of which from the Rivoli collection is 

 here described, is more nearly related to Euplectes flammiceps, Swain- 

 son, than to any other species known to me. From that species, as 

 well as from all others of this genus, in which the bright scarlet plumage 

 predominates, it may easily be distinguished by the uniform deep black 

 of the entire under surface of the body. The inferior tail-coverts and 

 thighs are pale reddish-white in the specimen now described, but I sus- 

 pect that in the more adult bird, they become scarlet, and also that the 

 wings and tail become darker. 



Pyrenestes coccineus, nobis. — Head, neck, rump, upper tail-coverts 

 and flanks, glossy crimson. Upper surface of the tail of the same 

 color, but not so glossy. All other parts of the plumage, brown, some 

 feathers of the back and a few of the wing-coverts margined with red. 



Hab, Western Africa. 



Total length from tip of bill to end of tail about 4 T yhs inches, wing 

 2V\jths, tail l T Vhs inches. 



