on Spermophila as a Potential Weaver.



9i



to the genus in Jamaica, but the meaning of which is not evident.


I see no reason why Spermophila, Melopyrrha, Phonipara,

and perhaps Passer, should not be the modified offspring of the

extinct types from which the Ploceidee were evolved. The nine-

or ten-primary distinction is of no great moment, since it is

generally admitted now, that in the so-called “ Nine-primaried

Oscines” the tenth is “always present, but rudimentary and

quite concealed ” ( Ridgzvay ), and I would go farther and say that

in Passer and some other genera of the Fringillidee, and all the

Icteridee which I have examined, the tenth primary is better

developed and less rudimentary than in many genera of Ploceidee,

though concealed by its coverts ; so that the relative length of the

coverts, which varies in different genera, is the only distinction

between nine-primaried and ten-primaried Oscines.


Formerly I rejected Passer as a probable relation of Phoni¬

para because I only knew of species which, like our British

Sparrows, constructed, at best, purse-shaped nests open close to

the top or at the top; but Stark tells us of Passer arcuahis:

“occasionally I have seen a bush so packed with nests that they

formed a solid mass much like one of the collective nests of a

Social Weaver-bird.” He furthermore observes:—“The nest, a

domed structure, is more or less flask-shaped, with an entrance

from a few inches to more than a foot in length, through a

horizontally projecting neck. This is essentially characteristic

of the PloceidcE.


It seems to me probable that Munia and allied genera

which still produce species strongly reminiscent of Spermophila,

is the oldest type of the Ploceidee and that from this the more

gaudy Grass-finches, somewhat recalling the colouring of Phoni¬

para and many of them with similar whispered songs, have

sprung ; finally developing into the more slender and alert shrill¬

voiced Estrildinee or Waxbills. Whether the true Viduinee also

branched off from Munia or at an earlier age from Melopyrrha is of

little matter, since all family-trees whether based upon structure

or habits must necessarily be conjectural, however dogmatically

an author may lay down the law.


The Mannikins and Grass-finches, which may be repre¬

sented roughly by Mu?iia and Poephila (Muniinee ) are practically



