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Show 6/6 CAPT. G. E. SHELLEY ON BIRDS [Nov. 18, 10. CORYTHORNIS CRISTATA (Linn.). Corythornis vintsioides, Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. p. 33 (1867); E. Newton, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 297. Corythornis cristata, Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. p. vi (1871) ; Hartl. Vog. Madag. p. 78. Seven specimens, Anjuan. til. MEROPS SUPERCILIOSUS, Linn. 3Ierops superciliosus, Hartl. Vog. Madag. p. 81 ; E. Newton, P. Z.S. 1877, p. 297. Two specimens from Grand Comoro, and five from Anjuan. I feel no doubt as to the forms inhabiting the Comoro Islands, Madagascar, and East and South Africa being identical. They are the true 31. superciliosus, Linn., and are distinct from the Egyptian and more northern form 31. cegyptius, Forsk. *12. CINNYRIS NOTATA (P. L. S. Mull.). Cinnyris notatus, Shelley, Monogr. Sun-birds, pt. ii. (1876). Nectarinia anyladiana, Hartl. Vog. Madag. p. 89. Five adult males, Grand Comoro. This species, hitherto only known from Madagascar, appears to be not uncommon in Grand Comoro. Compared with the Madagascar bird I cau find no specific difference, though in the specimeus before me there is a slight but variable tendency to a blue gloss on the throat and mantle. 13. CINNYRIS COMORENSIS, Peters. Cinnyris comorensis, Shelley, Monogr. Sun-birds, pt. ix. (1879). Three specimens, Anjuan. tl4. ZOSTEROPS ANJUANENSIS, E. Newton. Zosterops anjuanensis, E. Newton, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 297, pi. 33. fig. 1. One specimen from Grand Comoro, and six from Anjuan. *15. ZOSTEROPS KIRKI, n. sp. a, b. Two specimeus, Grand Comoro. Similis Z. mayottensi sed multo minor et subtus omnino flava, hypochondriis quoque flavis distingaenda. a. Upper parts, as well as the wing-coverts, olive-yellow, with a rather yellower shade on the upper tail-coverts ; sides of the forehead and an eyebrow gamboge-yellow ; remainder of the wings dark brown, the feathers margined on the outer webs with olive-yellow and on their inner webs with white ; tail dark brown, with the outer webs of the feathers edged with olive-yellow ; entire underparts uniform gamboge-yellow. Total length 3*7 inches, culmen 0*35, wing 21, tail 1*5, tarsus 0*65. I believe the specimen I have here described to be a male, because it is slightly the brighter bird. In b the sides of the crop and the flanks are faintly tinted with olixe. |