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Show 1870.] MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE BIRDS OF ANGOLA. 143 * first authorities on the Sylviidce, with specimens of Aedon pcena (Smith) from Damara Land, we came to the conclusion that it was not advisable to separate them. The head is browner, and the upper surface of the body generally darker than in the last-named species ; but as the specimen is in somewhat worn plumage, I think it best to wait for the arrival of additional examples before deciding on its specific distinctness from Aedon pcena. MOTACILLA VIDUA. Motacilla vidua, Sund. ; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1869, p. 567. Male. October 31st, 1868. Eye black ; bill and feet black. EUROCEPHALUS ANGUITIMENS. Eurocephalus anguitimens, Smith, Mont. P. Z. S. 1865, p. 93; Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisb. i. p. 334. Female. November 1st, 1868. Eye black ; bill and feet black. PASSER DIFFUSUS. Passer diffusus (Smith), App. to Rep. of Exp. p. 50. Passer simplex, Layard, Birds of S. Afr. p. 205 (nee Sw.), et Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisb. p. 153 (?). Male. October 31st, 1868. Eye brown ; beak black ; feet pale yellowish. Judging from the limited material I have been able to obtain, I am very much inclined to think that the present species has often been mistaken for the true Passer simplex, Swains., the occurrence of which in South Africa I am inclined to doubt. Thus Dr. Hartlaub and Mr. Layard record P. simplex from Southern Africa. There seem to me to be three closely allied but representative species, -P. simplex from Western Africa, P. swainsoni from North-eastern Africa, and P. diffusus from South-western and Southern Africa. Passer swainsoni appears to be distinct from P. simplex, and has not the whitish throat and abdomen of the latter species, besides being considerably larger. Passer diffusus, on the other hand, is somewhat larger than P. simplex, and has the abdomen and throat very pure white. I subjoin the dimensions of the two specimens contained in the present collection along with those of P. simplex and P. swainsoni, taken from birds in my own collection. Long. tot. rostr. al. in. in. in. a. P. diffusus. Angola 5*5 0*5 3*2 b. P. dffusus. Angola 6*0 0*5 2.25 c. P. simplex. River Gambia 5*0 0*45 2*85 d. P. swainsoni. Abyssinia 6*7 0*5 3*45 fLAGONOSTICTA MINIMA. Estrelda minima, Vieill.; Hartl. Orn. Westafr. p. 144. One male specimen. |