1870.] | MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE BIRDS OF ANGOLA. 143 
first authorities on the Sylviide, with specimens of Aédon pena 
(Smith) from Damara Land, we came to the conclusion that it was 
not advisable to separate them. The head is browner, and the upper 
surface of the body generally darker than in the last-named species ; 
but as the specimen is in somewhat worn plumage, I think it best 
to wait for the arrival of additional examples before deciding on its 
specific distinctness from Aédon pena. 
MOorTacILLA VIDUA. 
Motacilla vidua, Sund. ; Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1869, p. 567. 
Male. October 31st, 1868. Eye black ; bill and feet black. 
EUROCEPHALUS ANGUITIMENS. 
Eurocephulus anguitimens, Smith, Mont. P. Z. S. 1865, p. 93; 
Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisb. i. p. 334. 
Female. November Ist, 1868. Eye black ; bill and feet black. 
PASSER DIFFUSUS. 
Passer diffusus (Smith), App. to Rep. of Exp. p. 50. 
Passer simplex, Layard, Birds of S. Afr. p. 205 (nee Sw.), e¢ 
Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisb. p. 153 (?). 
Male. October 31st, 1868. Eye brown ; beak black ; feet pale 
yellowish. 
Judging from the limited material I have been able to obtain, I 
am very much inclined to think that the present species has often 
been mistaken for the true Passer simplex, Swains., the occurrence 
of which in South Africa I am inclined to doubt. Thus Dr. Hart- 
laub and Mr. Layard record P. simplex from Southern Africa. 
There seem to me to be three closely allied but representative species, 
—P. simplex from Western Africa, P. swainsoni from North-eastern 
Africa, and P. diffusus from South-western and Southern Africa. 
Passer swainsoni appears to be distinct from P. simplex, and has 
not the whitish throat and abdomen of the latter species, besides 
being considerably larger. Passer diffusus, on the other hand, is 
somewhat larger than P. simplex, and has the abdomen and throat 
very pure white. I subjoin the dimensions of the two specimens 
contained in the present collection along with those of P. simplex 
and P. swainsoni, taken from birds in my own collection. 
Long. tot. rostr. al. 
in. in. in. 
meoreeapesus. ANSOIR 6.22... 28. eee: 5°5 0°5 3°2 
Baer aaypueus. “ANON .0%.\5 oe a es 5 6:0 0°5 2.25 
e. P. simpler. River Gambia .......... 5°0 0°45 2°85 
d. P. swainsoni. Abyssinia ............ 6:7 0°5 3°45 
+LAGONOSTICTA MINIMA. 
Estrelda minima, Vieill.; Hart]. Orn. Westafr. p. 144. 
One male specimen. 
