OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 



305 



Striped with black ; beneath, brownish bufF. Bill small, 

 slender, less than 1 inch long. 



Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost. 



Size not larger than Agelaius phceniceus. (Jig- 54. d) Bill 

 remarkably straight, slender, and laterally very acute ; but the 

 culmen is flattened from the front, and the tip of the upper 

 mandible considerably depressed and obtuse. The male is deep 

 black, but not glossed with any other tint : the tail broad, and, 

 with the wings, more than usually rounded : it seems the an- 

 nectant species between Agelaius and Le'istes. Total length 8 

 inches ; bill, base -^ ; front f^ ; wings 3^^; the first and second 

 quills graduated; tail, base nearly 4; tarsus f^; hind toe and 

 claw ^. 



76. MoLOTHRUS brevirostris. 



Entirely black, slightly glossed with purple blue. 

 Bill short, ^ inch long : wings little more than 4 inches. 



Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost. {fig. 54. c) 



Total length 7^ inches; bill from tlie base, ^^; from the 

 nostrils I ; wings 4fg; tail, beyond, l-^^; base 3; tarsus, al- 

 most 1 ; middle toe f^ ; hind toe ^^. In size, and somewhat 

 in colour, resembling Scot, scriceus ; but the bill is considerably 

 shorter and thicker ; the tarsi and toes are shorter in length, 

 yet stronger in structure : bill and feet dark brown : wings 

 brownish. Female entirely brown, paler beneath, with the chin 

 whitish. 



77. Ploceus cristatus. 



Black : crest, crown, ears, throat, and breast, crimson. 

 Crest wanting in the female. 



Inhabits Western Africa. Mus. Par. {fig. 5Q, h) 

 Total length €\ inches; bill, from the gape °^ \ ditfo 

 front 7o ; wings 3-^; tail, beyond, 1^; tarsus about j|; hind 



X 



