OCR Text |
Show 1881.] BIRDS FROM SOCOTRA. 169 10. CINNYRIS BALFOURI, sp. nov. (Plate XV. fig. 2.) Supra obscure cinerascens, fusco maculata; pileo parum obscu-riore, indistinctius maculato ; remigibus fuscis, in margine interno mdlidioribus ; subalaribus albido fuscoque variis ; fasciculis pecto-ralibus la?te sulphur eis ; rectricibvs obscure fuscis, extima albida, secunda? macula pogonii interni apicali magna alba; mento nigro ; regione parotica infra albo marginata ; gutture in fundo nigricante albo squamulato; abdomine sordide albido; subcauda-libus albidis ; rostro nigro ; j^cdibus obscuris. Long, tota 5'0, ala? 2*5, cauda? 2-0. Fern, vix diversa. Five males and two females of this new Sunbird are in the series. The species is remarkable for the entire absence of metallic colours in the plumage. Capt. Shelley, our best authority on this lovely group, writes to us, after examining the skins : - " The birds from Socotra are true Sunbirds, belonging to the genus Cinnyris. Presuming that they are in full plumage, I should refer them to m y Cyano-mitra or Olive Group (Monogr. Sunbirds, p. xxix), and place this species in m y key directly after O. obscura, and in the same section ' a. N o portion of the plumage metallic. Pectoral tufts yellow,' p. xxix. It is a very distinct species ; and I should place it in a section by itself next to C. obscura, p. 291 ; but it has no very close affinities to that species." "Common in the interior of the island, on the hill-slopes and higher plains, where there are plenty of shrubs. The female is difficult to get. The male clings to the topmost branches, whence he gives out a very pretty note."-7. B. B. A nest of this species is in the collection (see Plate XV.). It is sewn on to a small pendent branch, and has a lateral opening halfway up. It is composed of woolly pappus of plants and dry tendrils, and is of the form usually met with in this group of birds. 11. PASSER INSULARIS, sp. nov. (Plate XVI.) Supra in fundo cinerascente maculis longitudinalibus nigris ; fascia supraciliari postice dilatata dilute vulpino-rufa; regione parotica alba; oculo nigro circumdato; gula nigra; ala? tectricibus minoribus dilute rufis; remigibus tertiariis pallide rufescenti marginatis ; remigibus primariis et rectricibus fuscis, his pallidius Umbatis; subalaribus albido fuscoque variis; tergo, uropygio et supracaudalibus vix maculatis ; subcaudalibus medio nigricantibus, late albido marginatis; subtus sordide et obsolete grisescens, nonnihil fulvescenti lavatus; gutture plus minus nigro-maculato rostro nigro, pedibus fuscis. Long, tota 5v, ala? 2*9, cauda? 2'4, tarsi 0'8. Fern, omnino obsoletius tincta; gula et regione malari ex isabellino albidis; alarum tectricibus obsolete fusco-rufe-scentibus; remigibus tertiariis sordide fulvescenti Umbatis; subtus unicolor grisescens. There are eight specimens in the collection of this true Sparrow, which apparently cannot be associated with any of the described species, It comes very near to Passer motitensis, but differs in wanting |