315 
Ploceidse of the Ethiopian Region. 
nally named after a male specimen, and S. guttata , after a 
female specimen. Although there is a great resemblance 
between these two species, and the sexes differ in a remark¬ 
ably similar manner, there appear to be good characters for 
their separation, and distinct geographical areas for their 
distribution. 
M. Rochebrune (Faun. Senegamb. p. 246) only admits one 
species of Spermospiza; but as his description of the sexes 
and young does not agree with the evidence before me, I 
have been obliged to disregard his observations. I have in 
my own collection an undoubtedly young bird with no white 
whatever on the breast (agreeing perfectly with a young bird 
in the British. Museum), and an adult bird with the sides of 
the head, upper tail-coverts, and the abdomen entirely black, 
which was marked “male” by Mr. Burton, naturalist, in 
Wardour Street; and I have no doubt as to his correctness 
in this matter, as at the time I asked him to be very parti¬ 
cular, for the bird having died in Mr. Wiener's aviary, be was 
specially anxious to ascertain the sex. This form, however, is 
regarded by M. Rochebrune as the female, and the specimens 
with white spots on the abdomen as the young. 
The remaining genera of the division Estrelda appear to 
constitute three very natural groups :— 
1. Spermospiza group : comprising Spermospiza, Cryptospiza } 
and Hypargus. 
2. Pytilia group : comprising Pytilia and Lagonosticta. 
3. Estrelda group : comprising Estrelda and Ortygospiza. 
Key to the Species. 
a. Bill only tipped with orange-red, that colour not 
extending more than halfway down the cutting- 
edge of the lower mandible. 
a 1 . Entire upper parts as well as the sides of the 
head and abdomen uniform black . 
b\ Sides of the head, front of crown, and upper 
tail-coverts red, of a much darker shade than 
the throat; abdomen black, spotted or barred 
with white. 
24. S. hcematina, S • 
S. hcematina , $ . 
z 2 
