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Show 1870.] MR. R. B. SHAIIPE O N T H E BIRDS OF ANGOLA. 1 15 HALCYON SENEGALENSIS. Halcyon senegalensis (Linn.) ; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1869, p. 568, et Monogr. Alced. pt. 7. Two males and two females. November 30th and December 10th, 1868. Eye black ; feet black. MEROPS SUPERCILIOSUS. Merops superciliosus, Linn.; Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 99. Dr. Otto Finsch, in his very elaborate little essay on a collection of birds from Natal (Journ. f. Orn. 1867, p. 237), has very carefully gone into the question of the identity of Merops superciliosus, M. eegyptius, and M. chrysocercus. I entirely agree with him, and believe that M. superciliosus is nothing but the young bird. Although the dull bronzy brown of this so-called species would seem at first a good character whereby to separate it, yet it must be noted that in every specimen I have yet examined there has always been here and there a blue lustre to be seen on the back, indicating an approach to a more mature stage of plumage. In the so-called M. superciliosus the line below and above the eye is always pure white, as also is the chin ; but generally a blue lustre is very apparent on the eye-stripes ; and in adult birds (31. eegyptius) very often a white feather or two may be distinguished among the blue superciliary feathers. I subjoin the dimensions of the specimens in m y collection. Long. tot. rostr. al. in. in. in. a. 6* • Madagascar (Verreaux) 120 1*7 5*4 b. o*. Egypt (Shelley) 11*7 1*7 5*8 c. Egypt (mus. R. B. S.) 11*9 1*7 5*7 d. Egypt (mus. R. B. S.) 12*3 1*7 6*1 e. <3 . Ondonga (Andersson) 10*2 1*7 6*0 /. $. Ondonga (Andersson) 9*2 1*35 5*5 g. Angola (Sala) 10*8 1*65 5*4 h. River Gambia (mus. R. B. Si) 10*5 1*5 5*8 i. River Gambia (mus. R.B.S.) 8*9 1*4 5*3 Specimens/and i are possibly breeding females and have no long tail-feathers, which will account for the disparity in their length when compared with the other specimens. CENTROPUS SUPERCILIOSUS. Centropus superciliosus, Riipp.; Mont. P.Z.S. 1865, p. 91; Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisb. i. p. 326. a. Male. November 30th, 1868. Eye red ; beak and feet black. CHRYSOCOCCYX CUPREUS. Chrysococcyx cupreus (Bodd.) ; Gray, Gen. of B. ii. p. 463. Chrysococcyx auratus (Gm.) ; Hartl. Orn. Westafr. p. 190. a, b. Two males. December 1st and 9th, 1868. Eye red ; beak and feet black. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1870, No. X. |