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Art. VII. — Descriptions of Neio Species of Bvrcls of the Genus Spermestes, Swainson, in 

 the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 



By John Cassin. 



1. Spermestes nigriceps. Cassin. Proc. Acad. Philada., VI., p. 185 (1852). Plate 

 VIII., fig. 1, male ; 2, female. 



Form. — Small, bill large and strong, wing with the second primary slightly longest, 

 tail short, but wide, and with the feathers broad. 



Dimensions. — Total length (of skin) about 3i inches, wing If, tail U inches. 



Colors. — Male : head black, which color is extended to the breast and sides of the 

 body ; on the last (the sides) the black feathers are tipped with white. Middle of 

 the abdomen and under coverts of the tail white. Back and wing coverts bright 

 reddish chesnut, primaries black with minute spots of white on their outer webs, 

 exposed portions of secondaries reddish chesnut, rump black with minute white spots, 

 tail black. Bill and feet (in skin) light colored. 



Female : entire plumage above brown, tinged with chesnut on the back, below pale 

 brownish white, with a tinge of yellow, and with a few traces of black on the throat, 

 primaries black edged with white, tail brownish black. 



Hab. — Zanzibar. 



Obs. — Of this handsome little species three specimens are in the museum of the 

 Academy, and belonged to the Rivoli collection. All of them are marked as from 

 Zanzibar. It is not in any considerable degree similar to any other species of this 

 genus with which I am acquainted, but is spotted with white on the wings like 

 Spermestes poensis. Fraser. 



2. Spermestes fuscans, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada., VI., p. 185 (1852). Plate 

 VIII. fig. 3. Adult male ? 



Form. — Small, robust, bill very strong, wing with the first, second and third quills 

 very nearly equal, tail rather long, with the middle feathers longest. 



Dimensions. — Total length (of skin) about 31 inches, wing 2, tail 2 inches. 



Colors. — Entire plumage dark chocolate brow T n, darker on the throat and around 



the base of the bill, inner webs of quills paler and nearly white. Bill, horn color. 



Hab. — Borneo. 



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