268 DR. O. FINSCH ON BIRDS FROM NORTH-EASTERN 
Mr. Strickland of the southern P. melba than with that of his P. citertor. In the male, 
no. 11 (4), the white spots on the breast and sides are very distinct, less distinct in the 
specimen a, which shows the under parts with more transverse lines, like a specimen 
from West Africa in the Bremen Museum. It seems, therefore, doubtful whether 
P. citerior is distinct from P. melba.—O. F. 
{Iris pale sienna; beak pale coral; legs and feet grey. 
I only met with this species in the highlands on the Anseba, and at Rairo on the 
Lebka. Mr. W. T. Blanford, I believe, shot one one day with me in the plain of 
Koomaylee.—W. J.] 
131. SpERMESTES caNTANS (Linn. ). 
Estrilda cantans, Riipp. Syst. Uebers. p. 77. no. 279. 
Coccothraustes cantans, Heugl. Syst. Uebers. no. 389. 
Uroloncha cantans, Heugl. Fauna d. Roth. Meer. no.164; Finsch & Hartl. Vogel Ostafr. p.435. no. 228. 
a,a. 3,9. River Amba. August 19. 
6. 9. Amba. August 19. 
c. 3. Bejook. July 15 (no. 1741). 
d. Waliko. July 20 (no. 1856). 
Both sexes are alike.—0O. F. 
[Iris pale brown; beak slate-colour. . 
Not met with while with the expedition, but procured at Amba, in the plain, 
August 19, 1868. 
I saw the nest of this species at Waliko, and shot the bird as it came out, but thére 
were no eggs: this was on the 20th of July 1868. The nest is very large, say 
1 ft. by 9in. by 9 in., and is composed of fine grasses, the ends sticking out, not woven 
together as in that of the Weaver-bird. In form it resembles that of the Water-Ousel 
(Cinclus aquaticus), having a hole at one end; it was situated in a mimosa bush about 
eight feet from the ground —W. J.] 
132. XANTHODINA DENTATA, Sundev. 
Xanthodina dentata, Sundev. Ofers. Akad. Férh. 1850, p. 127. 
Passer lunatus, Heugl. Syst. Uebers. no. 427. 
Xanthodina dentata, Heugl. Journ. f. Orn. 1868, p. 81. 
Petronia albigularis, Brehm, Nauman. 1856, p. 377. 
Xanthodina albigularis, Heugl. Journ. f. Orn. 1868, p. 82. 
a. 3. Bejook. July 18 (no. 661). 
b. 6. Waliko. July 21 (no. 1032). 
c. d. Waliko. July 24 (no. 1180). 
d. 2. Gelamet. August 10 (no. 63). 
Long. al. Caud. Culm. Tars. 
2” 10 1" 5-1" 63" 43'"-5 3" 1 ie a eee rR 
2 9 1 63 53 We oe we we 6D 
