46-i CYPSELID.?:. 



the upper parts, with rusty edges, disappearing more and more 

 as the bird becomes older. 



In many birds very small light edges are visible on most of the 

 feathers ; these seem to be freshly-moulted birds. 



Specimens from the West-African region and Madagascar are 

 darker, and must be regarded as a darker form, probably caused by 

 the greater amount of rainfall in those countries. 



The tail varies much in length. 



Hab. From Nubia (Khartoom) to Senegambia, and southwards 

 as far as South Africa (Damara-land). 



Evidently an inhabitant of dry countries. 



a. (S ad. sk. Lamu, E. Africa, Aug. 25. F. J. Jackson, Esq. 



[P.]. 



b. Imm. sk. Lamu, E. Africa, Aug. F. J. Jackson, Esq. 



[P.]. 



c. 2 ad. sk. Tabora, July 31 {Emm Pasha). Berlin Museum [E.]. 



d. e. cJ ad. sk. Ondonga, S. Africa, March 2 Sharpe Coll. 



(^Andei'sson). 



f. 5 ad. sk. Ovaquenyama, S. Africa {An- Sharpe Coll. 



dersson). 



g. 2 ad. sk. Ovaquenyama {Anderssoii). Shelley Coll. 



h. 5 ad. sk. Uamara-land (Andersso7i). Tweecldale Coll. 



i. cJ ad. sk. Gorom, Senegambia, May. Purchased. 



Subsp. a. Tachornis gracilis. 



a. Referring to specimens from Madagascar. 



Cypselus ambrosiacus, E. Neivt. Ibis, 186.3, p. 340 (Madagascar) ; 



Grandid. Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1867, p. 353 (Madag.). 

 Cypselus parvus, Schleg. P. Z. S. 1866, p. 421 (Madag.) ; Pollen Sr 



Van Dam, Faun. Madag. ii. p. 66 (1868) ; Milne-Edw. ^ Grandid. 



Madagasc. p. 189, pi. 71 (col. fig.), pi. 73 (skel.), pi. 74 (anat.) 



(1878). 

 Cypselus gracilis, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 315 (Madag.); id. 



P. Z. S. 1872, p. 868 (descr. juv.) ; Haril. Vdg. Madag. p. 58 



(1877). 



b. Referring to specimens from West Africa. 



Cvp>elus ambrosiacus, Sartl. J.f. O. 1853, p. 397 (W. Afr.) ; id. 

 'Om. W.-Afr. p. 24 (1857) ; Cass. Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phil. 1859, 

 p. 33 (Camma and Ogobai E.). 



Cypselus parvus, Bocage, Jorn. Sc. Lisboa, xii. p. 269 (1871) ; Sharpe, 

 Ibis, 1872, p. 67 (Fantee) ; Shelley Sf Buckl. Ibis, 1872, p. 286 

 (Gold Coast) ; Ussher, Ibis, 1874, p. 47 (Gold Coast) ; Nicholson, 

 P. Z. S. 1878, p. 131 (Abeokuta) ; Bocaqe, Om. Angola, p. 160 

 (1881) ; Salv. Cat. St rick I. Coll. p. 370(1882) (W.Afr.) ; Hartert, 

 J.f. 0. 1886, p. 590 (Haussa, Niger). 



This is merely a darker coloured form of the true T. parva. It 

 is darker, especially on the back, wings, and tail, and adult indi- 

 viduals have more distinct metallic gloss. Old birds have the throat 



