| OCR Text |
Show 1870.] MR. R. B. SHARPE ON BIRDS FROM MADAGASCAR. 387 birds along with m e with Brisson's description, agrees that we must have here the species described by him. The only point in which it does not absolutely agree is in the white spot behind the eye, which Brisson describes as fuscous; and he takes no notice of "the white lores. This, however, will not warrant us in supposing that the present bird is not identical with the species described by Brisson, as will be seen from the following facts. I have now two specimens before me which differ from each other in some respects. In one the rufous on the head and breast is very distinct and pure, the lores and the spot behind the eye very pure white, as also the throat. This I take to be the adult male. The other bird is altogether duller in plumage, the spot behind the eye very small and dirty white in colour, while the lores are of such a dull white as hardly to be distinguished from the sides of the head, and I do not think could possibly be so, if the skin were not very carefully prepared. This specimen, which I take to be the female bird, agrees admirably with the descriptions of Brisson and Hartlaub. Fig.l. Oxylabes madagascariensis. I subjoin the descriptions of two birds now before me. Male(!). Head rich sienna, obscurely fringed with brown on the forehead; lores and a spot behind the eye pure white; ear-coverts duller sienna; upper surface of the body olive-green, inclinino- to rufous on the sides of the neck ; quills pale greyish brown, margined exteriorly with olive-green, especially the secondaries, the innermost of which are entirely of a dull olive-green colour; tail dull |
