Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Genus Malimbus. 
457 
and gave the characters of the genus; and it is by this generic 
name this group of birds has been generally known. After¬ 
wards this appellation was suppressed by the author; and in 
1820 Ficophagus was proposed. Although under Sycobius 
the genus was first defined, yet, according to the strict rule 
of nomenclature, it will have to give way to the first term 
proposed, as, without any sufficient reason, an author hardly 
has the right to change one name for another. 
The small group of African Finches which compose this 
genus constitute a part of the family Ploceidse, and, with two 
exceptions, are conspicuous for their dress of deep black and 
rich crimson. Two species vary by having a cinereous plu¬ 
mage enriched by red and white; and one unites orange-red 
with the general colours borne by the majority of the species. 
They are chiefly inhabitants of the west coast of Africa, from 
Sierra Leone to Angola, apparently nowhere very abundant. 
According to Heuglin, M. melanotis is a native of Abyssinia ; 
and, so far as I am aware, no other member of the group 
has been obtained on the east coast. 
The geographical distribution of the nine species, as now 
known, is somewhat as follows :—The oldest described mem¬ 
ber of the group, Tanagra malimbica of Daudin ( Malimbus 
cristatus, Vieillot), has been obtained all along the western 
shore from the Gold Coast to the Congo. This is the only 
crested species of the genus, and is easily distinguished from 
its relatives. The next in order, M. scutatus of Cassin, has a 
somewhat wider range, as the type was sent from Sierra Leone, 
and other specimens have been procured at various points 
on the coast as far south as the river Murie, a branch of the 
Congo, where it was obtained by Du Chaillu. The Gaboon 
is the only locality, so far as I know, from which M. 
cassini has been received; and this has remained since its dis¬ 
covery a very rare species, only four specimens, I believe, 
being known,at present—the type and one other in the British 
Museum, one in Mr. Sharpens collection, and one in the Phi¬ 
ladelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. Two other species 
range from the Gold Coast to the Congo, viz.:— M. rubri- 
collis, Swainson, mistaken by Daudin and Vieillot for the 
