248 
Mr. W. L. Sclater on Birds collected 
other South-African examples being taken since (c/. Ann. 
S. Afr. Mus. iii. 1905, p. 3 72). 
[A single specimen only of this curious species was ob¬ 
tained ; this was shot in a reedy river among great numbers 
of Hyphantornis and Pyromelana that were breeding there. 
Its very bright colour and small size at once distinguished 
it, but I was not able to pick out another example. In 
habits it apparently resembles the Yellow Weavers. 
The soft parts are :—Irides hazel; bill blackish slate- 
coloured, paler horny on the under side of the lower 
mandible ; legs and toes pale brown.] 
99. Alario alario. 
CC. Klipfontein, May (1). 
[This species was only found in Namaqualand, where it 
was in company with A. leucolcema, but was apparently much 
the scarcer bird, as the example sent was the only one shot. 
In call and habits it resembles the other form. 
The soft parts are :—Irides dark hazel; bill horn-brown ; 
legs and toes blackish.] 
Alario leucol^ema. 
CC, Klipfontein, Apl., May (8). 
The white-throated and white-eyebrowed form of the 
Mountain Canary was supposed to be the winter dress of 
the typical form until Sharpe (Bull. B. O. C. xiii. p. 80) 
described it as a distinct species under this name. 
It appears to replace A. alario to the west and north-west. 
There are examples of A. alario in the British Museum from 
Deelfontein, and one from Table Mountain, and also one 
labelled “ Zambesi, Meller,” of doubtful authenticity. 
Alario leucolcema } on the other hand, appears to be found 
chiefly in German S.W. Africa. There are examples in 
the British Museum from Damaraland, the Hountop River, 
Gt. Namaqualand (type), and from Ookiep in Little 
Namaqualand. 
There are three females among those collected by Grant; 
these are quite distinguishable from the same sex of 
A. alario. They are paler, have a more or less distinct white 
