Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Genus Malimbus. 463 
creature the term nuchalis. It is well figured by Fraser in 
his f Zoologia Typica/ and by Vieillot in the f Oiseaux 
Chanteurs/ 
Adult. Black. Fronts top, and back of head, and sides 
of neck red. Bill and feet black. Total length 6J inches, 
wing 3J, tail 2J, tarsus 1, bill 1. 
Specimen in British Museum has the back of head and 
sides of neck red, all the rest black. This may be a female, 
or possibly a young male. 
Malimbus nitens. 
Ploceus nitens , J. E. Gray, Zool. Misc. i. p. 6. 
Sycobius nitens , G. R. Gray, Gen. of B. vol. ii. p. 352, 
pi. 87 ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1869, p. 192. sp. 34; Bonap. Consp. 
Gen. Ay. vol. i. p. 439. sp. 16. 
Malimbus nitens, Hartl. Syst. Ornith. W.Afr. (1857) p. 
153. sp. 401; Sharpe, Cat. B. Afr. p. 60. sp. 571; Shelley 
& Buckl. Ibis, 1872, p. 289 ; Ussher, Ibis, 1874, p. 68. 
sp. 132. 
Hab. Sierra Leone ( Sabine ); Aguapim (Riis); Gaboon 
( Verreaux); Fantee (Sharpe)-, Abrobouko, Cape-Coast {Us¬ 
sher) ; Gold Coast (Shelley); Rio Boutry (Pel); Cape Palma, 
Calabar coast (Laurein) Paris Mus.; river Muni (Du Chaillu). 
M. nitens was first described by Dr. Gray (l.c.). It is 
peculiar among the members of this genus by the squami- 
form feathers of the head and neck, resembling somewhat in 
texture and colour those of the members of the genus Manu- 
codia. It is a clearly defined species, the black plumage and 
red pectoral band readily serving to distinguish it from the 
other birds of this group. Like the rest of the members of 
this section, it appears to be scattered along the West-African 
coast from Sierra Leone to the Congo, being nowhere very 
abundant. There is nothing in its synonymy calling for 
any especial comment, the species never having received a 
second appellation. 
Jet black. Pectoral band crimson. Bill black on basal 
half, remainder yellowish. Feet black. Feathers of head 
and neck shining purplish black. Total length 5| inches, 
wing 3J, tail 2J, bill on top f. 
