122 STUENIDiK. 



329 (18G3) ; Ileuql. J.f. O. 1863, p. 23, 1864, p. 257, 1869, p. 10 ; 

 Shnrpe, Ibis, 1869, p. 60 ; miujl. Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. Abth. 2, 

 p. 5i'l (1870); Finsch, Trans. Z. S. vii. p. 257 (1870); id. Sf 

 Jlartl. ViUj. Ostafr. p. 377 (1870) ; Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 54 

 (1871); Slielley if Buckley, Ihis, 1S72, p. 288 ; Antin. if Salvad. 

 Viayg. Boe/os, p. 124 (1873); Ussher, Ibis, 1874, p. 65; Hartl. 

 Abhandl. nai. J'er. Bremen, iv. p. 76 (1874) ; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 

 1874, p. 300 ; Reichen. J. f 0. 1875, p. 37 ; Nichols. P. Z. S. 1876, 

 p. 130; Salvia, Cat StricJd. Coll. p. 276 (1882) ; Hartcrt, J.f. O. 

 1886, p. 5SQ ; Salvad. Ann. Mas. Civic. Genov. (2) vi. p. 208 

 (1888). 

 Grandala leucogastra, Blanf. Geol. (§- Zool. Abyss, p. 367 (1870). 



Adult male. General colour above metallic pucc-colour, ranging 

 from violet to purple reflexions, according to the light ; wing- 

 coverts like the back ; bastard-wing and primary-coverts blackish, 

 the latter with piice-coloured margins ; quills blackish, the second- 

 aries puce-colour externallj', the innermost entirely of that colour ; 

 centre tail-feathers puce-coloured, the remainder blackish, pi;ce- 

 coloured externally ; head and throat as well as the chest puce- 

 coloured ; lores blackish ; remainder of under surface of body from 

 the breast downwards pure white ; thighs white, with dusky bases ; 

 under tail-coverts white ; under wing-coverts and axillaries blackish, 

 washed with pace-colour or purple on the edges ; quills below 

 blackish : '' bill and feet black ; iris brown, with a beautiful yellow 

 ring"' {Hartcrt). Total length 6"G inches, culmen 0*6, wing 4, 

 tail 2, tarsus 0-8. 



The full colour of the adult plumage seems to be puce or purplish 

 violet which fades to a reddish purple. The new feathers are more 

 purplish violet. 



Adult female. Different from the male. General colour above 

 nearly uniform dark brown, with pale rufescent or whitish edges to 

 the feathers of the head and back ; wing-coverts and quills dark 

 brown, with similar light margins ; the inner webs for the most 

 part rufous ; tail-feathers brown ; lores, sides of face, and ear- 

 covcrts dark brown ; cheeks white, streaked with brown ; throat 

 white ; remainder of under surface of body white ; the lower throat, 

 fore neck, and breast distinctly spotted with triangular brown 

 marks, smaller and rounder on the lower breast and sides of vent, 

 more longitudinal on the sides of body, which are washed with 

 brown ; thighs and under tail-coverts white ; under wing-coverts 

 and axillaries brown with rufous edges ; quills below pale rufous, 

 brown on the outer web and for the terminal third of the inner one. 

 Total length 7 inches, culmen 0*6, wing 3-9, tail 2-25, tarsus O'S. 



Some ornithologists have contended that in North-eastern Africa 

 the adult female becomes metallic like the male. This experience 

 has been controverted by other travellers. It seems to me most 

 unlikely that the female should become metallic, as no tendency to 

 go beyond the brown plumage exhibits itself in South-African 

 P. verreauxi, and yet in three specimens from Abyssinia, two of 

 which are sexed as females by Mr. Jesse, there are a few metallic 

 purple feathers. It is at any rate a curious fact, as is also the way 



