PLOCEPASSER MAHALI. — Smith.* 
Aves. — Plate LXV. — Male. 
P fronte, capite supra, nuclia, taniolaque ab angulo oris ad cervicem nigro-brunneis ; cervice supra, 
dorsoque pallide flavo-brunneis ; alls faciis duabus transversis flavo-albis notatis ; subtus albus, 
pectore ventreque rufo-flavo-tinctis. Rostro pedibusque flavo-brunneis, brunneo-rubro umbratis. 
Oculis profunde rubro-aurantiis. 
Longitxjdo corporis cum capite, 4 unc. 2 lin. ; caudffi 2 unc. 6|- lin. 
Colour. — The forehead, the top of the head, the nape, the lores, and a stripe 
from the angles of the mouth to the top of the neck, liver-brown ; thesides of the 
head and ear-coverts broccoli-brown, tinged with yellowish brown ; eyebrows 
broad, and of a dusky white colour. The upper and lateral parts of the neck, 
the interscapulars, the back, and the lesser wing-coverts intermediate between 
broccoli and wood-brown ; the last row of the lesser wing-coverts are broadly 
tipped with cream-yellow, and thus an oblique band of that tint is formed in 
front of the quill coverts ; the primary and secondary quill-coverts are livid 
umber-brown, and the latter is broadly tipped with pale cream-yellow, 
forming a second oblique bar parallel with the one just described. The 
primary and secondary quill-coverts are light liver-brown, the former nar- 
rowly the latter broadly margined with rusty white ; the rump and upper 
tail coverts yellowish white ; the tail-feathers liver-brown tipped and narrowly 
edged externally with rusty white. The chin, the throat, the vent, the under 
tail-coverts and the thighs dusky white ; the breast, the belly, and the flanks 
dirty cream-yellow, inclining to pale wood-brown. Bill dull yellowish brown, 
shaded with brownish red ; legs, toes, and claws the same colour. Eyes 
deep brownish orange. 
Form, &c. — Figure rather robust, and when the bird is perched, or moving 
on the ground, it has much of the appearance of a Ploceus. Head rather 
laro-e • bill conical, pointed, and slightly compressed at the sides ; the lower 
mandible received between the cutting edges of the upper ; the culmen 
slightly arched, and entering between the feathers of the forehead. Wings 
moderately long, and rather rounded, the longest primaries about three- 
quarters of an inch longer than the secondaries ; when closed they reach 
rather beyond the first half of the tail ; the first quill feather rudimentary, 
the second and third equal and longest, the fourth slightly shorter ; tail square 
at the point, or very slightly forked. Tarsi and toes robust, the former with 
* Plccepasser, Smith, June, 1836. Agrophilus, Swainson, 1837 
