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Show 564 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE BIRDS OF ANGOLA. [Nov. 25, him to do so. No birds from Prince's Island appearing in the it is evident that his intentions were frustrated in this quarter ; but the following birds are sent from St. Thomas: - (a) SPEIROPS LUGUBRIS. Zosterops lugubris, Hartl. Orn. Westafr. p. 72. " Male. St. Thomas, October 1868."-J. J. M. (b) HYPHANTORNIS GRANDIS. Ploceus collaris, Fraser, P. Z. S. 1842, p. 142. Ploceus grandis, Gray, Gen. of Birds, ii. p. 351 (1849). Hyphantornis grandis, Hartl. Orn. Westafr. p. 125 (1857). " Male and female. St. Thomas, October 1868. Stomachs contained remains of beetles, hard seeds, and the fibrous oily envelope of the Oil-Palm nut (Elais guineee)."-J. J. M. Mr. Fraser's name posesses undoubted priority over that of Mr. G. R. Gray, but must nevertheless give way, inasmuch as there is a H. collaris (Vieillot) of an earlier date. I do not believe that any English description of the female of this fine Weaverbird bas as yet been published, and I therefore subjoin that of the bird sent by Mr. Monteiro. Head greyish brown, with longitudinal stripes of dark brown ; back and scapularies olive-green, the centre of each feather very dark brown, giving the appearance of dark shaft-stripes ; lower part of the back greyish, tinged with olive-green ; least wing-coverts greyish washed with olive-green ; second and cubital coverts blackish brown, tipped with white and edged with olive-green ; primary coverts black ; quills blackish, the inner web light olive at the base, the outer web narrowly edged with olive-green, a little broader on the secondaries; tail dark brown above, paler beneath, the middle feathers distinctly washed with olive-green, the exterior ones margined with the same colour ; cheeks and ear-coverts yellowish brown, marked with greyish brown; throat and breast yellowish white, a little darker on the breast, the sides of which are dark brown ; centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts white ; flanks light brown ; under wing-coverts white, tinged with olive-green ; bill black ; feet light brown. (c) COTURNIX HISTRIONICA. Coturnix histrionica, Hartl. Orn. Westafr. p. 204. " Male. October 1868. Stomach full of seeds."-J. J. M. I have also seen this very handsome Quail from Damara Land, whence it was sent by the late Mr. Anderson. It seems to be widely spread over western Africa ; and in St. Thomas it is very common, as the following note, which Mr. Keulemans has kindly forwarded to me, will show. " During a sojourn of a few weeks on the Island of St. Thomas I had the opportunity of observing this bird, which, although very common on the island, is, by reason of its habits, little known even to |
