1881.] BIRDS FROM SOCOTRA. 169 



10. CiNNYRis BALFouRi, sp. iiov. (Plate XV. fig. 2.) 



Supra obscure cinerascens, fusco maculata ; pileo parum ohscu- 



riore, indistinctius maculato ; remigibns fuscis, in margine inferno 



imllidioribus ; subalaribits albidofuscoqiie variis ; fasciculis pecto- 



ralibus Icete sitlphureis ; rectricibi's obscure fuscis, extimn albida, 



secundce macula pogonii interni apicali magna alba ; mento 



nigra ; regione parotica infra albo marginata ; gutture in fundo 



nigricatite albo squamulato ; abdomine sordide albido ; subeauda- 



libiis albidis ; rostro nigra ; pedibus obscuris. Long, iota 5'0, 



al(B 2'5, caudce 2"0. Fern, vix diversa. 



Five males and two females of this new Sunbird are in the series. 



The species is remarkable for the entire absence of metallic colours in 



the plumage. Capt. Shelley, our best authority on this lovely group, 



writes to us, after examining the skins : — " The birds from Socotra 



are true Sunbirds, belonging to the genus Cinngris. Presuming 



that they are in full plumage, I should refer them to my Cyano- 



mitra or Olive Group (Monogr. Sunbirds, p. xxix), and place this 



species in my key directly after O. obscura, and in the same section 



'a. No portion of the plumage metallic. Pectoral tufts yellow,' 



p. xxis. It is a very distinct species ; and I should place it in a section 



by itself next to C. obscura, p. 291 ; but it has no very close 



affinities to that species." 



" Common in the interior of the island, on the hill-slopes and 

 higher plains, where there are plenty of shrubs. The female is diffi- 

 cult to get. The male clings to the topmost branches, whence he 

 gives out a very pretty note." — I. B. B. 



A nest of this species is in the collection (see Plate XV.). It is 

 sewn on to a small pendent branch, .ind has a lateral opening half- 

 way up. It is composed of woolly pappus of plants and dry tendrils, 

 and is of the form usually met with in this group of birds. 



11. Passer iNsuLARis, sp. nov. (Plate XVI.) 



Supra in fundo cinerascente maculis longitudinalibus nigris j fascia 

 supraciliari postice dilatata dilute vulpine -I'uf a ; regione paro- 

 tica alba ; oculo nigra circumdato ; gula nigra ; alee teetricibus 

 minoribus dilute rufis ; remigibus tertiariis pallide rufescenfi 

 marginatis ; remigibus primariis et rectricibus fuscis, his pallidius 

 limbatis ; subalaribus albido fuscoque variis; tergo, urapygio et 

 supracaudalibus vix maculatis ; subcaudalibus media nigricantibus, 

 late albido marginatis; subtus sordide et obsolete grisescens, 

 ixonnihil fidvescenti lavatus; gutture plus minus nigro-maculato ; 

 rostro nigra, pedibus fuscis. Long, tola 5'7, alee 2"9, caudce 2'4, 

 tarsi 0"8. Fern, omnino obsoletius tincta; gula et regione malari 

 ex isabellina albidis; alarum teetricibus obsolete fusco-rufe- 

 scentibus ; remigibus tertiariis sordide fulveseenti limbatis ; subtus 

 unicolor grisescens. 

 There are eight specimens in the collection of this true Sparrow, 

 which apparently cannot be associated with any of the described 

 species. It comes very near to Passer motif ensis, but differs in wanting 



