Parus fringillinus G.A. Fischer & Reichenow, 1884a: 56 .

Now: Melaniparus fringillinus (G.A. Fischer & Reichenow, 1884) . See Greenway et al. (1967: 103).

Syntype: ZMH 6880 I (Fischer no. 916), male, skin, former mount, collected at “Gross-Aruscha”, 10.07.[18]83 .

Syntype: ZMH 6880 II (Fischer no. 913), female, skin, former mount, collected at “Gross-Aruscha”, 10.07.[18]83 .

Type locality: “ am Fusse des Maeru-Berg (Massai)” [base of Mt Meru, Arusha Region, Tanzania], from the original description and locality of both syntypes .

Remarks: In the original description, no type was chosen and there were no inventory numbers for specimens provided, but measurements for one specimen and the locality were given. Fischer (1884) listed two specimens for this species, a male and a female. As Fischer (1884) mentioned that the female has nearly the same coloration as the male and both specimens have the same locality, both are regarded as syntypes. Both were mentioned as type specimens in Bolau (1898). The town of “Gross Aruscha” is situated at the base of Mount Meru.