OR FAMILY OF SUN-BIRDS. 271 



looked the matter up, Ave find that whatever rectirostris 

 may be, it certainty is not singalensis. 

 The synonomy includes Cinnyris elegans, Vieill, Nectarinia 



fantensis, Sharpe, and N. tephrolosma, Sharpe, (Ibis, 1872, 



p. 69.) 



—Anthodiata teplirolcema. — Captain Shelley's description of 

 the female differs from that given by Mr. Cassim, in fact 

 in this matter he follows Sir W. Jardiue and Dr. 

 Hartlaub. 



—Urodrepanis christina, — This is the author's first new genus. 



It is thus shortly described: — "Similar to JEthopyga, but 



with the two centre tail-feathers abruptly narrowing into 



fine points/' 



Whether it is desirable to create new genera on such very 



minor differences is to say the least doubtful. 



pi. 4. Cinnyris mariquensis. — The author here employs 

 the name mariquensis, Smith, and refers bifasciatus, Shaw 

 by which it has been generally known to Jardinei, Verr. 



— Cinnyris bifasciatus. — The author shows that the name 



bifasciatus should be applied to the West African species, 



being founded upon one of Perrein's specimens from 



Malimba. 



He also gives reasons for recognising four species nearly 



similar in plumage, but differing in size, from four of the 



African sub-regions, but many ornithologists would, we 



suspect, hesitate to adopt this view, while some would 



doubtless unite all four races under Shaw's name. 



pi. 5. Cinnyris gutturalis. — Captain Shelley recognises three 

 other closely allied species, C. senegalensis from West 

 Africa, C. acik and C. cruentatus from North-East Africa. 



pi. 6. Neodrepanis coruscans. — This species is here figured 

 for the first time, the plate is good, and shows the peculiar 

 sinuated form of the first primary. The upper figure re- 

 presents the type specimen which Captain Shelley presumes 

 to be the immature male, the lower represents the adult 

 male. We should be much disposed to suspect that the first 

 was really a female, and that the sexes will be found to be 

 chiefly distinguished by the absence or presence of the 

 wattles. 

 The author forms a new sub-family Neodrepanina for the 



reception of this Madagascar species. 



Part I further includes four illustrations without letter press. 



pi. 7. iETHOPYGA dabryi. — Here the female is figured for the 

 first time. 



pi. 8. Cinnyris brasilianus. — This is Nectminia Hassellii 

 Temm. We have already in a separate article (Notes on 



