300 Capt. B. Alexander on the 
dry grass, which is placed between the small branches of a 
tree, generally an acacia. 
44. Spermestes cucullatus Sw. 
Spermestes cucullata Sharpe, Cat. B. xiii. p. 264; Reichen. 
J. f. O. 1892, p. 222 (Togoland) ; Shelley, B. Afr. i. p. 28. 
Ad. S, 10/1/01, Gambaga. Ad. (^ ? , 6/4/01, B. Volta 
(Gambaga). Ad. cT. Pong, 26/5/01. 
Gambaga, B. Volta, and Pong. 
Not common, found in small flocks. 
45. Ortygospiza atricollis (Yieill.). 
Ortygospiza atricollis Sharpe, Cat. B. xiii. p. 270. 
Obtained at Binduri, north of Gambaga. 
46. Granatina phcenicotis (Sw.). 
Estrilda bengala Reichen. J. f. 0. 1897, p. 39 (Togoland) ; 
Hartert, Nov. Zool. vi. p. 414 (Gambaga). . 
Common, obtained at Gambaga and Gomieri. 
47. Estrilda cinerea (Vieill.). 
Estrilda cinerea Sharpe, Cat. B. xiii. p. 394; Shelley, B. 
Afr. i. p. 29. 
Karaga and Krachi. 
In the male the under parts are brighter than in the 
female, but the dimensions are the same. 
48. Estrilda melpoda (Vieill.) . 
Sporaginthus melpodus Sharpe, Cat. B. xiii. p. 325 ; 
Reichen. J. f. O. 1891, p. 389 (Togoland). 
Ad. (? ?, 11/11/00, Kumassi. Imm. ?, 30/11/00, 
Kintampo. Ad. ^ $ , 11/5/01, Kwobia. 
Kumassi, Kintampo, and Kwobia. 
The immature bird has the whole of the breast and abdomen 
pale buff, contrasting with the light pearly grey of the throat 
and fore-neck. The crown of the head is almost uniform 
with the light chocolate-brown of the back. The lores, 
feathers round the eye, and ear-coverts are less bright than 
in the adult. 
This species is plentiful around Kumassi, consorting 
