1881.] BIKDS FROM SOCOTKA. 171 



Rhynchostrdthus socotranvs, sp. IIOV. 



Supra obsolete fuscits, maculis ohscvriorihus conspicue varius, 

 pifeo aubnifescente, ohscurius maculate ; remigibvs tertiariis in 

 limbo externa dilute sulphureis ; tectricibus alarum majoribvspalli- 

 dioreflavo marginalis ; rectricibus, parte apicali excepta, inpogo- 

 nio externo Icete flavo-limbafis, duabus intermediis snbconcoloribus, 

 limbo flavo vix conspicuo ; remigibus majoribus fiiscis ; loris 

 nigricantibus ; regione parolica late stramineo-pallcscente ; gutture 

 pallida, fuscescenti vario ; pectore et abdomine in /undo sordide 

 albido, obsolete fusco striolatis vel maculatis ; crisso et subcatida- 

 libus immaatlatis ; subalaribus sordide Jlavescenti-albidis, fusco 

 variegatis ; rostro plumbeo-nigricante, pedibvs fuscis. Long, 

 tola 5"7, alcB 3'3, caudte 2-1, tarsi 0'7. 

 Of this very curious new form of Sparrow four males are in the 



poUcetion ; unfortunately no female. The thick Coccothraustine 



bill renders it easily distinguishable from all other species of the 



Passerine group. 



"On the shrubs in the Goehel valley ; feeding on seeds of a species 



of Crotonr—I. B. B. 



13. Emberiza septem-striata (Riipp.). 

 Emberiza tahapisi, Heuglin, Orn. N.A. ii. p. 665. 

 One example, apparently of this species, in spirits. 



" Met with in several places, hopping about on the stones in the 

 streams."— J. 5 B. 



14. Amydrus blythi, Scl. 



Amydrus bhjthi, Heuglin, Orn. N.A. ii. p. 52.5. 



Five males and six females of this fine species ; hitherto only 

 known from Somali-land. 



"Voice as fine as that of a Thrush. Scarce on the low grounds, 

 and there usually in pairs, except where there are groves of fig-trees or 

 tamarinds on the banks of the streams, as at Feraigeh on the south, 

 and Ma-iiber on the north. 



" Common on the high grounds in flocks, and there seen on the 

 faces of the cliffs in which thev nest. Nom. vulg. 'Shjlhay.' " — ■ 

 /. B. B. 



15. Amydrus frater, sp. nov. 



^neo-niger, cauda subrolundata ; rostro pro mole longiore quam in 



A. blythi; remigibus primariis cinnamomeo-riijis, parte apicali 



nigra valde extensa, in rem. I et 2 vix diversa ab A. blythi, 



in rem. 3 e^ 4 multo minore et cequali modo extensa. Long. 



tola 12"0, alcB 6*0, cattdce 5'5, tarsi 1"4. 



The occurrence of two typical species of Amydrus in so small an 



island as Socotra is very curious ; but there seems to be no doubt 



about the fact. The bronze-green gloss of the plumage of A. 



frater is never seen in the steel-blue of A. blythi; and still greater 



is the diflPerenee in the colouring of the primaries. In the first 



primary of A- frater (he black apical portion occupies nearly the 



