458 
Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Genus Mali mb us. 
female of M. cristatus; and M. nitens, Gray, which seems 
to be generally distributed, as it has been procured at many 
points between the two places named above. M. nigerrimus, 
Vieillot, is found from Fantee to Angola, and is the least- 
ornamental species of the genus, its black plumage being re¬ 
lieved by no other colour. M. rachelice (type) was obtained 
at the river Muni by Du Chaillu, and at the Gaboon; and 
M. melanotis , with the widest distribution of all, has been 
sent from Senegal, Gambia, and Casamanze, and also, accord¬ 
ing to Heuglin, is found in Abyssinia. Lastly, M. rubriceps 
has been procured on the river Limpopo. 
The following table gives the various distinctive characters 
of the species, by which each one may be easily recognized. 
I have divided them into four sections, as they seemed to 
form quite naturally such subgeneric groups, retaining for the 
first the term Sycobius , comprising the single crested species. 
The next five, with black and red or all black plumage and 
non-crested heads, I have placed under the term Ficophagus ; 
while for M. rachelice , which inclines towards Euplectes in the 
colour of its plumage, I propose the term Atalochrous , or 
gay-coloured , and retain M. melanotis in Anaplectes . 
Genus Malimbus. 
Sycobius. 
A. Head crested. 
aa. Top of liead, cheeks, throat, and breast bright 
red, rest of plumage black . 
Ficophagus. 
B. Head non-crested. 
bb. General plumage black. 
a. Head, neck, and breast crimson. 
1. Under tail-coverts crimson..... 
2. Under tail-coverts black. 
b. Occiput and sides of neck crimson. 
c. Breast alone crimson. 
cc. Entire plumage black. 
Atalochrous. 
dd. Black j top of head, neck, and breast orange- 
red ; under tail-coverts yellow. 
1. M . cristatus . 
2. M. scutatus. 
3. M. cassini. 
4. M. rubricollis. 
5. M. nitens. 
6. M. nigerrimus. 
7. M. rachelicc. 
