Birds of Celebes: Ploceidae. 551 



(Meyer h 3, Fischer j 7); Gorontalo (Joest k 1]\ Banka (Nat. Coll.); Tagulanclang 

 and Siao (iid.); Gt. Sangi (Platen li 6); Peling (Nat. Coll. hlO]; Sula Islands 

 (Leyden Mus. h 7). 



4. Muuia molucca <^ propinqua. 



0. Mania molucca (1) Hart., Nov. Zool. 1896, 16S. 



p. Munia molucca propinqua (1) Hart., Nov. Zool. 1896, 56S, partim; (2) id., ib. 1897, 157, pt. 



Diagnosis. Usually with the bars below slightly more obhterated than in Celebes examples, 

 and thus standing nearer the form propitiqua of the Lesser Sundas [(f Kalao, Dec. 

 95: Everett — 15150; Q. Saleyer, Nov. 95: Everett — C 15151). 



Distribution. Saleyer and Kalao (Everett o 1). 



Observations. Mr. Hartert at first affirmed that the birds of Saleyer and Kalao "agree 

 entirely with specimens from Celebes" (o 1) ; then (p 1), that "the specimens from Kalao 

 must probably be considered to belong" to the subspecies propinqua; then again (p 2) 

 he remarks: "Celebes examples are not, I think, separable from M. molucca typica, 

 while some of the Saleyer and Kalao specimens approach the M. molucca propinqua 

 of the Lesser Simda Islands". 



A nation is represented by its average individual, and we beheve that the 

 average Saleyer and Kalao Munia will be passably well represented by the formula 

 M. molucca <^ propinqua, showing a nearer I'elationship to the Lesser Sunda birds 

 than to the Moluccan ones. 



5. Munia molucca ^ propinqua. 



"Sario", Karkellang, Nat. Coll. 



Diagnosis. The bars on the under surface shghtly broader and blacker than in Celebes or 

 Halmahera (4 examples from Karkellang, autumn, 1896). 



Distribution. Talaut Is. — Karkellang (Nat. Coll.). 



Remark. Here the formula employed is not strictly correct, for the Talaut bu'ds seem 

 to have the characters supposed to distinguish the Moluccan birds from those of the 

 Lesser Sundas more strongly pronou.nced than in the typical form — at least than 

 in that of Halmahera. The fault of the matter is that the extremes of racial 

 differentiation are not yet known. Hartert speaks of Sumba birds as "very typical 

 propinqua", meaning, perhaps, that the characters which Sharpe made a reason for 

 separating the Flores birds by that name, are more highly developed in Sumba. 



6. Munia molucca kangeanensis (Vorderm.). 



q. Uroloncha kangeanensis (Ij Vorderm., N. T. Ned. Ind. 1893, LH, 199. 



Diagnosis. Like the Celebes form, but the breast and belly washed with an isabelhne tint 



(? young), and the markings on the under pai-ts finer (Vorderm an). 

 Distribution. Kangean Islands. 



The following is a general descrijjtion of the species: 



Adult. Sinciput and sides of head, chin, throat and jugulum black; upper-parts 

 bistre-brown, duskier on the wing-coverts; rump white, with vermiculate bars of 

 black; quills, tail and upper tail-coverts black; under-parts white, with ver- 

 miculate bars of black; under wing-coverts cinnamon-buff, quills below on mner 

 web washed with the same colour. Iris brown; bill and feet bluish black 'Guill. h 5]\ 



