On the Grand Vasa ofM, Le Vaillant. 241 



tween the two birds would at first sight authorise such a con- 

 clusion. The alleged difference between them is chiefly in their 

 size ; the former being one and twenty inches in length, the latter 

 not exceeding fourteen inches, or according to M. Brisson and 

 some other naturalists who appear to have seen the bird, being 

 about the size of the Jjrican grey Parrot (Fsitt. erithacus, Linn.)» 

 M. Le Vaillant affirms that the bill of the first species is more 

 robust, in proportion to its size, than that of the second. He also 

 points out some difi'erence in the lighter shades that prevail over 

 the dark plumage of each bird as it is held in different lights. 

 And he states that the grand Vasa is a native of the South Eastern 

 coast of Africa, while the petit Vasa is known to inhabit Mada- 

 gascar. These however are differences which may easily be sup- 

 posed to belong to varieties of the same species. That in size is 

 certainly great; but not more so than is often found to exist 

 between individuals of the same species ; and the distance between 

 the localities again is not greater than that which frequently sepa- 

 rates the birds of many species of this family. 



I have been led into the foregoing doubts upon this subject by 

 the examination of a bird which seems in some degree to unite the 

 characters of both the preceding species. It is a living specimea 

 which forms one of the highest attractions in the collection of the 

 Zoological Society, * and is at this moment in the most perfect 

 condition for examination. It accords very accurately with the 

 general appearance of both species as represented in the plates of 

 M. Le Vaillant, and characterized in his descriptions ; having the 

 prevailing colour of a sooty black, with a lighter shade of greyish- 

 slate passing over it as the bird is held in a strong light. A tint 

 of green, it must be added, sometimes prevails over all these 

 shades, which has not been noticed by M. Le Vaillant. The 

 length of the bird is eighteen inches, in which point it is nearly 

 intermediate between both species. In its bill which is stout and 

 much rounded at the culmen^ it seems to agree most nearly with 



*The bird was most kindly presented to the Zoological Society by Mrs. David 

 Barclay, who had received it from William Telfair, Esq. an active and highly 

 scientific naturalist now resident in the Island of Madagascar. 



Vol. III. Q 



