NO. 1180. BIRDS FROM WEST AFRICA— OBERROLSEB. 13 



Family CAPITONED^E. 



GYMNOBUCCO CALVUS (Lafresnaye). 



Bucco calcus Lafresnaye, Rev. Zool., 1841, p. 241. 

 Gymnobucco calviis Bonaparte, Cousp. Avium, 1, 1850, p. 141. 



Two specimens, male and female, June 11, 1895. Both of these indi- 

 viduals are typical of the so-called Gymnobucco peli, and are undoubt- 

 edly adults. From examination of these and from comparison with an 

 adult specimen of true G. calvus from Fantee, the writer is very strongly 

 inclined to consider Dr. Sharpe correct in his opinion of the specific 

 distinctness of G. peli. That they are sexes of the same species seems 

 unlikely if any reliance is to be placed upon the sexing of collectors. 

 The examples at hand indicate that calvus is in all its dimensions a 

 decidedly larger bird than peli^ this difference of dimensions conspicu- 

 ous in the bill. It lacks entirely the tufts of nasal bristles so conspicu- 

 ous in j>e/i, and the scattered bristles on the top of the head are much 

 fewer in number. The number of specimens at present available is too 

 limited, however, to warrant a definite opinion, and final disposition of 

 the question must necessarily be deferred until a sufficient series prop- 

 erly sexed can be brought together. 



TRICHOLiEMA GABONENSE Shelley. 

 Tricholcema galonense Shelley, Bnll. Brit. Orn. Club, XXIX, October, 1895, p. iii. 



An adult female of this little known but very distinct species is con- 

 tained in the present collection. As no detailed description of the 

 species appears to have been i^ublished, the following, taken from this 

 example, is added : 



Top of head black, thickly spotted with greenish yellow; remainder of upper 

 parts, including wings and tail, sepia brown; the back and wing-coverts with 

 roundish markings of greenish yellow ; wing-quills (excepting outer primaries), tail- 

 feathers, and upper tail-coverts margined externally with greenish yellow, this most 

 golden on the wings, most greenish on the tail-coverts; sides of head black mottled 

 with white; throat white, the feathers with shaft markings of brownish black; 

 rest of lower parts dull yellowish green, the feathers of the jugulum with narrow 

 black shaft lines and hair-like tips ; the breast and abdomen with roundish spots of 

 dark brown, these expanding into bars posteriorly. 



Family PICIDJE. 



MESOPICOS XANTHOLOPHUS Hargitt. 



Dendropicus xantholophus Hargitt, Ibis, 1883, p. 173. 

 Mesopicus xanthoJophus Hargitt, Ibis, 1883, p. 421. 



One specimen of this rare species is contained in the collection. 

 Although sexed as a female, the yellow feathers on the occiput seem to 

 indicate its being a male. Otherwise it is apparently typical, though 

 its measurements are rather small. 



