— 108 - 



where acacia-trees grow scattered auioog the other trees. I fre- 

 quently saw them in rather large numbers in the tops of Fodo- 

 carpus trees where they sat eating the yellow fruit. They fly 

 badly and only for short distances at a time. 



Among the six specimens in full-dress Lean separate two 

 types, which may possibly be due to diflferent ages but are probably 

 due to the plumage being new or having been long in use and 

 more faded in consequence thereof. 



I. The green ty p e. Agrees very closely with the des- 

 scription Reichenow (op. cit. p. 303) has given. The third 

 and fourth, secondaries, however, have a narrow, blue edge above 

 the extremity. The innermost secondaries with more or less 

 sharply defined blue tips. The median rectrices green. 



II. T h e b I u e t y p e. A great number of the green feath- 

 ers of the head and back with clear blue tips. All the secon- 

 daries with a distinct, broad blue edge, extending to and in- 

 cluding the black tip. The inner secondaries blue also on the 

 outer-web and a wide, blue border along the whole of the edge 

 of the outer-web. The middle rectrices blue and all 

 the others with a blue edge. 



The three young birds have a scarcely noticeable "super- 

 cilium" (sometimes none at all). No bluish black shield below 

 the somewhat paler yellow-coloured throat, but the fore-neck and 

 breast olive-green instead, the same colour as the upper surface 

 of the body. The belly pale rusty-brown and under tail-coverts 

 pale green. The middle tail feathers with clear bluish green 

 wash. The outer- web of the secondaries green without a blue 

 edge. Irides blood-red; bill black; legs greenish grey — 

 greyish red. 



Wing, tarsus, culmen, 



97, 98, 98 mm. 10 mm. 32—33 mm. 



The measurements of the full-grown are: 



Wing, 



cTcT 98, 100, 101 mm. 99 97, 99, 99 ;nm. 



tarsus, bill, 



10—11 mm. 34—36 mm. 



Melittophagus pusilhis cyanostictus Cab. — Rchw. II. p. 308. 

 3 (5(5 ad. 27. 4. ; 1 e juv. 27. 4. Mombasa. 



Very common in the environs of Mombasa. The three males 

 are in moult and the plumage much worn. What strikes the 

 eye at once, however, when these three are compared with the 

 unabraded dress of the young bird is, that they have a predo- 

 minant greyish blue wash on the upper parts and the middle 

 feathers of the tail are greyish blue, whereas the young bird is 

 green; the middle rectrices being also green. 



