DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW BIRDS FROM WESTERN AFRICA. 185 



Hah. — Countries on the Camma River, Western Africa. Specimens in Mus. Acad. 

 Philada. 



The present species is strictly of the same generic or subgeneric group as the 

 common Hyphaniornis textor of Western Africa, and resembles it also in colors and 

 general appearance. It is, however, strongly characterized by the large space of 

 chestnut color on the breast, which assumes the form of a wide pectoral belt or 

 band, and is uniformly presented in numerous specimens. It is smaller than H. 

 textor, and easily distinguished when in mature plumage, though the young resemble 

 each other to some extent. 



This bird seems to be related to Ploceus collaris, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet., xxxiv. 

 p. 129 ; Ency. Meth., ii. p. G99 ; but that species is described as having the tail 

 black and the breast rufous, which characters are not applicable to the species now 

 described. It also is related to Ploceus capitalis, Lath., Gen. Hist., vi. pi. 94, but 

 not intimately. This species is probably quite abundant in the countries above 

 mentioned, and numerous specimens have been received at the Academy from 

 Duchaillu and other collectors. The adult male is represented in our plate of the 

 natural size. 



G. Sycobius Raciieli^e, Cassin. 



Sycobius Rachelioe, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada., 1857, p. 36. 

 Sycobius Rachelia?, Cassin, Hartlaub, Syst. Orn. West Afr., p. 265, (1857.) 

 PLATE XXIII. Fig. 3. Adult. 



Rather smaller than S. scutatus, general form robust; bill strong; wing with the 

 first quill spurious, third and fourth longest and nearly equal; tail rather short; 

 feet moderate or rather strong. 



Total length about 5i inches, wing 3i, tail 2 inches. 



Adult Male. — Head above bright reddish orange, a paler shade of which extends 

 on the sides of the neck. Throat and cheeks glossy black, which color encloses 

 the eyes. Neck in front and breast bright orange red, immediately fading into 

 bright yellow and extending on the sides further than on the middle of the breast. 

 Entire upper parts of body, wings, tail and abdomen glossy black, which color runs 

 into a point on the breast, (with yellow on each side.) Under tail coverts yellow. 

 Under wing coverts black ; bill bluish black ; feet lighter. 



Young Male. — Similar to the above, but with all the plumage duller colored, and 

 the reddish orange of the crown mixed with black. 



Hah. — Country on the River Muni, Western Africa. Specimens in Mus. Acad. 

 Philada. 



This is a very handsome and quite peculiar bird in its colors and general appear- 

 ance, and is the only species of its group in which the colors of the breast extend 



