48. TERPSIPH0NT5. 361 



the same slate-colour, resembliug the underpart of lower mandible ; 

 iris slate-colour, tinged with purple " (MS. note of collector, spec. /). 

 Total length 7'1 inches, wing 3-2o, tail 4, tarsus 0'65. 



Obs. In mj ' Catalogue o£ African Birds ' I united my specimens 

 of this species to T. nicjnceps, not having a good series of the latter, 

 and supposing it to be the not fuUy plumaged phase. Having since 

 got a set of adult males of T. nir/riceps, there is no doubt that the 

 two species are easily distinguishable. 



The gradual development of white on the wings probably indicates 

 a complete white plumage, which the series in the Museum does not 

 exemplify. A specimen, however, with the steel-blue colour extend- 

 ing upon the fore neck and chest, in addition to the white on the 

 wings, may give a hint as to the nature of the final dress. 



Ilah. West Africa : Senegambia. 



a. 2 *<i. st. West Africa. Purchased. 



b. cj jtiv. ; c,fl. Imm. sk. River Gambia. R. B. Sbaipe, Esq. 

 e. cJ ad. sk. Cape St. Mary, Gambia, R. B. Sharpe, Esq. 



Dee. 22, 1864. 

 /. 2 ad. sk. Cape St. Marv, Gambia, R. B. Sharpe, Esq. 



March 21,180.3. 

 g. c? imm. sk. River Gambia. 



12. Terpsiphone princeps. 



Muscipeta princeps, Temm. PL Cal. iii. pi. 584. 



Muscipeta atrocaudata, Eyton, P. Z. S. 1830, p. 102 ; Bp. Consp. i. 



p. 325. 

 Muscipeta atriceps, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xi. pp. 203, 790. 

 Tchitrea atrocaudatus, Bhjth, J. A- S. B. xv. p. 293 ; id. Cat. B. Mus. 



A. S. B. p. 204 ; Grai/, Hand-l B. i. p. 3.34, no. 5024. 

 Muscipeta princip.alis, Temm. Sf Schl. Faun. Japan, p. 47, pi. 17e. 

 Tchitrea principalis, Swinh. Ibis, 1860, p. 57. 

 Tchitrea princeps, Cfrai/, Hand-l. B. i. p. 333, no. 5012 ; Swinh. P. 



Z. S. 1871, p. 381 ; David ^- Omtal. Ois. Qiine, p. 113. 



Adult male. General colour above glossy purplish maroon, darker 

 on the rump ; the upper tail-coverts and tail piirplish black ; wing- 

 coverts maroon, like the back ; quills black, edged with dull maroon 

 or chestnut ; head and crest, sides of face, throat, and fore neck 

 purplish black, the purple shade being more distinct on the former ; 

 breast slightly shaded with ashy grey ; rest of under surface of body 

 and under tail-coverts creamy white ; flanks washed with puqolish 

 brown ; thighs dusky brown ; axillaries white, internally dusky, the 

 under wing-coverts blackish, edged with white ; " wattle round the 

 ej'^es cobalt-blue; iris \Aa.ck" {Wehhe). Total length 14-3 inches, 

 culmen 0"7, wing 3-65, tail 3-7, middle tail-feathers 11, tarsus 0-65. 



Adult female. General colour above brownish chestnut ; wing- 

 coverts uniform with the back : primary-coverts dusky brown ; quills 

 blackish, externally edged with dull chestnut ; tail dull brown, 

 washed with rufous near the base ; crown and nape dull purplish 

 black, the hind neck ashy brown ; lores blackish ; sides of face and 

 throat dusky grey, inclining to paler ashy on the breast ; rest of 



VOL. IV. 2 B 



