1871.] MR. R. B. SHARPK ON BIRDS FROM ANGOLA. 131 



Trichophorus jlaviventer, Sm. ; Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisb. ii. 

 p. 43. 



One specimen shot by Mr. Monteiro. In size it is bigger than 

 Damara specimens in my collection, the bill being very conspicuously 

 larger and shorter. I fail, however, to detect the slightest difference 

 in coloration. 



62. Pycnonotus tricolor. (Plate VII. fig. 2.) 



Ixus tricolor, Hartl. Ibis, 1802, p. 341 ; Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisb. 

 i. p. 137. 



Mr. Hamilton has sent three specimens of this bird, which was 

 originally discovered by Mr. Monteiro in Angola. 



I take the present opportunity of making a few observations on 

 the African species of the genus Pycnonotus, as their synonymy 

 appears to me to be in a hopeless state of confusion at present ; nor 

 am I quite certain that all my own conclusions are satisfactory, not- 

 withstanding that I am working with a very full complement of 

 specimens before me. In their recent work on the birds of Eastern 

 Africa, Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub give a summary of what they 

 consider to be the representatives of the genus Pycnonotus in Africa, 

 as follows : — 



a. With white under tail-coverts. 



1. Pycnonotus obscurus (Temm.). 



2. P. inornatus (Fraser). 



3. P. ashanteus (Bp.). 



4. P. arsinoe (Licht.). 



b. With yellow under tail-coverts. 



5. P. nigricans, with which is associated P. xanthopygos (Hempr. 

 et Ehr.). 



6. P. tricolor (Hartl.). 



7. P. capensis (Linn.). 



In the first of these groups I recognize only two species (P. ob- 

 scurus and P. arsinoe) ; and in the second group I admit five spe- 

 cies, as follows: — (1) P. gabonensis (sp. n.), (2) P. xanthopyyii/x, 

 (3) P. nigricans, (4) P. tricolor, and (5) P. capensis. 



In the first place, the authority for P. ashanteus is Prince Bona- 

 parte, who states in his diagnosis that it is exactly similar to P. 

 obscurus of Algeria, but is smaller. All I can say is that I fail to 

 discover the slightest specific distinction, and measurements will 

 show how little worth are the differences in size. 



I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. T. C. Eyton for the loan of 

 Fraser' s t) 7 pe specimen of P. inornatus; which I find to be certainly 

 the same as P. obscurus. It appears to be a young bird, being suf- 

 fused with brown on the breast, though this is not a specific cha- 

 racter, as any one acquainted with the variations in plumage of the 

 Pycnonoti will readily admit. The range of P. obscurus may be 



