i 



NO. 1180. BIRDS FROM WEST AFRICA— OBEBHOLSEB. 17 



CINNYRIS OBSCURA (Jardine). 



Nectarinia obscure Jardine, Monogr. Sunbirds, 1842, p. 253. 

 Cinnyris ohscurus Bonaparte, Consp. ATium, I, 1850, p. 407. 



In tlie series of seven specimens there is comj)aratively little indi- 

 vidual color difference. The upper parts in some are rather more tinged 

 with brownish 5 the under surface varies somewhat in the extent and 

 shade of the greenish wash ; but otherwise they are alike. There is, 

 however, a considerable variation in measurements. A specimen in 

 the U. S. Museum collection, from Fantee, is noticeably more brownish 

 both above and below, and suggests the possibility of the existence of 

 a northern race. 



Family PLOCEID^. 



MALIMBUS MALIMBICUS (Daudin). 



Tanagra malimbica (male) Daudin, Ann. du Mtis., I, 1802, p. 151, pi. 10, fig. 1. 

 Malimbus malimbiciis Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XIII, 1890, p. 480. 



The single specimen is an adult male in perfect plumage. It is 

 apparently identical with an example from Fantee, and as compared 

 with this does not exhibit the restriction of black on the forehead which 

 is stated by Dr. Sharpe to characterize the Oameroons birds. 



SPORAEGINTHUS MELPODUS (Vieillot). 



Fringilla melpoda Vieillot, Nout. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., XII, 1817, p. 177. 

 Sporaeginthus melpodus Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XIII, 1890, p. 325. 



Two specimens, June 26, 1895, in immature plumage. As this con- 

 dition differs somewhat from that of the adult, and appears to be 

 unknown, the following description is offered : Above, including wing- 

 coverts, light chocolate brown, duller and rather darker on the head, 

 but without conspicuous contrast; upper tail-coverts dull red; wing- 

 quills fuscous, narrowly margined with jDaler; tail sepia, the outer 

 feathers tipped and broadly edged externally with brownish gray; 

 sides of head orange, this color deepest ou the lores and paling to yel- 

 low on the posterior auriculars; throat and sides of neck light gray; 

 remainder of lower parts dull buff, palest anteriorly ; lining of wing buff. 



PYRENESTES COCCINEUS Cassin. 

 Pyrenesies coccineus Cassin, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1848, p. 67. 

 Two adult males in the comparatively rare black plumage. One of 

 these, taken June 27, is in process of molt, this being most conspicuous 

 in the feathers of head and tail. 



Family HIRUNDINID^. 



PSALIDOPROCNE NITENS (Cassin). 



Aiticora nitens Cassin, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1857, p. 38. 

 Psalidoprocne nitens Sharpe, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1870, p. 291. 



Two specimens. Both have the throat sooty brown, a character 

 mentioned by Dr. Sharpe^ as peculiar to the birds from Gaboon and 



' Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., X, 1885, p. 204. 

 Proc. J^. M. vol. xxii 2 



