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Show 330 DR. H DOHRN ON THE BIRDS OF PRINCE'S ISLAND. [June 12, postico et interscapulio pulchre viridi-smaragdineo resplenden-tibus ; sincipite dilute cinereo ; cauda ardesiaco nigricante : subtus unicolor cinerea ; subcaudalibus ochraceo irroratis; collo antico nitore nonnullo virente; subalaribus ardesiacis; capitis lateribus cinereis; rostri dimidio basali nigricante, apicali flavido ; pedibus carneis. Long. 0-30, rostr. a fr. 0-02, alas 0-18, caudce 0-10, tars. 0'02 m. Very rare; I saw only a few specimens, the skins of which were with one exception spoiled by humidity and insects. 23. PERISTERA PRINCIPALIS, Hartl., n. sp. Supra brunnea, nitore cupreo-rubente et virescente; sincipite cano; nucha vinaceo-purpurascente; remigibus fuscis, 2°-5m valde emarginat.is; subalaribus ardesiacis; mento niveo; pectore vinaceo-rubente; abdomine sensim albicante; subcaudalibus canis; colli lateribus larte rubentibus ; rectricibus, 2 mediis exceptis, nigris, apice late et dilute cinereis ; rostro nigro, pedibus nitide rubris. Long. 026, rostr. a fr. 0 018, alee 0*156, cauda? 0*08, tars. 0*03 m. Uncommon ; nearly allied to P. simplex from San Thome. 24. GLAREOLA NORDMANNI, Fisch. One specimen, not different from Russian specimens. 25. ARDEA GULARIS, BOSC Common on the rocks of the shore. Breeds in March and April. Young birds are not white, as Hartlaub asserts, but dark grey; their head is adbrned with a crest of hairy feathers, which disappear in older specimens. Adult birds exhibit white feathers on their wings, varying sometimes on the right and left wings of the same bird, and show a tendency to grow white. I got one specimen, a very old one, nearly quite white; in some parts of the body the colour is somewhat greyish and dirty white, and some feathers are as dark as usual in this species. 26. ARDEA ATRICAPILLA, Afzel. Less common than the preceding species ; not different from coast specimens. 27. GERONTICUS OLIVACEUS, Dubus. Soon after m y arrival on the island I was informed by some natives that there was a very remarkable bird in the' island called " Corvao." One told me that it was a kind of raven with splendid metallic wings; another described the bird " with the head of an owl and the feet of a duck, climbing up and down trees ;" and others gave me other extravagant descriptions of it; but all of them agreed that the bird lived in almost inaccessible rocky and wooded localities of the southern district, and that if ever a specimen passed over the town it was a bad omen for the white inhabitants, who in such case were exposed to heavy disease or death. Of course I was very curious |