THE BIRDS OF LIBERIA 739 
Malimbus nitens (J. E. Gray). Red-throated Forest Weaver 
Ploceus nitens J. E. Gray, Zool. Miscellany, vol. 1, p. 7, 1831: Africa. 
Length 6.5 inches; plumage everywhere shining black, shading to smoky brown on belly, 
except the throat which bears a shield of stiffened scarlet feathers. JFemale similar but belly some- 
what grayish. Bill pale blue-gray; iris red. Portuguese Guinea to Loango. 
Like other species of the genus, a bird rarely seen on account of its secre- 
tive habits and the difficulty of penetrating the dense cover in which it lives. 
Biittikofer notes a few specimens from his collecting stations at Bavia, Schief- 
felinsville, Hill Town, Mt. Gallilee, Robertport, and Jarjee. We saw a few 
at Paiata, and secured two. One of these, taken by Dr. Linder, October 14, 
was seen with its mate starting a nest in a low bush overhanging water, globular 
with the usual entrance at one side. I saw the species several times in the 
same region, where in low swamps near the St. Paul’s River one might occa- 
sionally startle a pair or get a brief glimpse of the birds as they showed them- 
selves for a second or two in flying from one leafy tangle of bushes and thorny 
vines to another. They seemed to be usually in pairs, both birds keeping 
close together. 
Malimbus rubricollis bartletti Sharpe. Red-crowned Black Weaver 
Malimbus bartletti Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. 18, p. 479, 1890: Gold Coast. 
Length 8 inches; top of head from base of bill to neck and behind the ear region carmine, rest 
of the plumage including the region from bill to eye and ear, shining black; iris hazel. In the 
female the forehead to the level of the eyes is black. Liberia to Togo. 
Of the black forest weavers, this is perhaps the one most often seen of this 
secretive genus. It inhabits thickets to some extent but often occurs in more 
open situations. I occasionally saw single birds working their way about in 
long, hanging vines, apparently searching for insects, or hopping along the 
fronds of palm trees in shaded places. Biittikofer even remarks that they may 
be found in clearings sitting on isolated trees and stumps watching for passing 
insects, but we saw nothing of the kind, except that once a bird seemed to be 
securing ants from a large nest on a tree. 
Quelea erythrops (Hartlaub) 
Ploceus erythrops Hartlaub, Rev. de Zool., p. 109, 1848: Island of St. Thomé. 
Length 4.5 inches; head and throat carmine, the latter with dark bases to the feathers; back 
blackish brown, rump paler; breast and flanks bright brown, belly white; wings dark brown, the 
feathers with yellow outer and white inner edges. Senegambia to Angola. 
Although this little weaver may at times occur in some numbers, we saw 
it but once, at Paiata, in a thicket at the edge of a rice-field. Biittikofer 
speaks of securing many immature birds on the Farmington River; and at 
other stations (Bendo near Fisherman Lake, and at Schieffelinsville) it occurred 
in ‘‘brushwood”’ and coffee plantations. Lowe obtained it at Subono. 
