OCR Text |
Show 1881.] BIRDS FROM EASTERN AFRICA. 587 J. f. O. 1879, pp. 299, 303; Fischer & Reichenow, torn. cit. p. 351. Steganura sphenura, Cab. J. f. O. 1878, p. 231. Lamo; Ugogo; Dar-es-Salaam. The characters of V. verreauxi, Cass., are, in my opinion, not of specific value. The range, therefore, of this species is from 17° N. lat. to 21° S. lat. 117. VIDUA PRINCIPALIS. Vidua principalis (Linn.), Finsch & Hartl. Vog. Ostafr. p. 428; Cab. J. f. O. 1878, p. 230; Fischer & Reichenow, torn. cit. p. 264; Fischer, J. f. O. 1879, pp. 280, 300, 303; Fischer & Reichenow, torn. cit. p. 351 ; Gurney, Ibis, 1881, p. 128. Vidua serena, Fischer, J. f. O. 1878, p. 282. Lamo; Pangani; Usambara hills ; Usambara mountains ; Dar-es- Salaam. This species ranges throughout Africa south of about 16° N. lat. 118. VIDUA SPLENDENS, Reichenow. Vidua splendens, Reichenow, Orn. Centralbl. 1879, p. 180; Fischer, J. f. O. 1879, p. 300 ; Reichenow & Schalow, torn. cit. p. 326 ; Fischer & Reichenow, torn. cit. p. 352 ; Forbes, P. Z. S. 1880, p. 475, pi. 47. fig. 1. Ugogo. Besides the present locality this species is only known from Kiba-raja, where the type was collected by Dr. Fischer. 119. SPERMESTES CUCULLATUS. Spermestes cucullatus, Swains., Finsch & Hartl. Vog. Ostafr. p. 436; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 715; Fischer, J. f. O. 1877, pp. \74, 178, 179, 206, 425, 426; Cab. J. f. O. 1878, p. 230; Fischer & Reichenow, torn. cit. p. 266; Fischer, J. f. O. 1879, pp. 286, 303 ; 1880, pp. 187, 193. Pangani; Usambara mountains ; Dar-es-Salaam. This species ranges over the whole of Africa south of about 16° N. lat. 120. HABROPYGA MINOR, Cab. Habropyga astrild, Finsch & Hartl. Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 439; Fischer, J. f. O. 1877, p. 426. HaBropyga minor, Cab. J. f. O. 1878, p. 229; Fischer and Reichenow, J. f. O. 1878, p. 266. Melinda ; Pangani; Ugogo. Nine specimens sent me by Dr. Kirk have the cheeks, chin, and throat whiter than in H. astrild, Linn. This appears to me to be the best-marked character for H. minor, Cab., which I cannot look upon as more than a local race of H. astrild, Linn. With regard to H. astrild and its allies, they range throughout the African region south of about 18° N. lat., and the races possibly |