IG. PLEGADIS. 33 



Advlt. General colour above black, with varying glossy reflections, 

 either bronzy purple or grceu ; upper mantle deep maroon-chestnut, 

 as also the lesser wing-coverts and scapulars, the latter having bronzy 

 tips ; median and greater coverts duller and more oily green, with 

 bronze or steel-green reflections ; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and 

 quills entirely glossy green, the secondaries with purplish reflections ; 

 lower back, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail all black, with various 

 reflections of purple and oily or bronzy green ; head and neck all 

 round, as well as the under surface of the body, deep maroon- 

 chestnut, somewhat lighter on the chest and breast ; forehead and 

 fore part of crown glossy green, as also the base of the cheeks and 

 a slight shade below the eye ; under tail-coverts and under wing- 

 coverts and axillaries black, with metallic reflections of green and 

 purple, the quill-lining similarly glossed : " bill dark brownish 

 olive; feet also dark brownish olive; iris brown" {GuiUemard). 

 Total length 22 inches, culmen 5-2 wing 11-2, tail 3*9, tarsus 4-2. 



The feitiale is similar to the male in plumage, but is smaller in size 

 and with a somewhat smaller bill. 



The winter plumage would appear to be adopted after the bird 

 has left for its winter-quarters, as a male killed in Celebes on the 

 20th of August is still in full red plumage. The winter plumage of 

 the adults appears to consist in the entire loss of the chestnut 

 plumage of the head, back, and scapulars ; the rest of the plumage 

 remains metallic with the same varying shades of green and purple, 

 but the wings are rather more bronzy and the wing-coverts brighter 

 metallic green. The head and neck are entirely streaked with black 

 and whitish, and in the spring the red feathers of the summer 

 plumage are gained by a moult. 



Foimi/ birds are similar to the winter plumage of the adult, but 

 are more of a metallic oil-green, without the beautiful shades which 

 distinguish the adults at all seasons. The head is dusky brown, with 

 a certain amount of white striping on the head and throat, but not 

 so much as in the adult winter plumage. 



Hal). Southern Europe and the Mediterranean countries. Acci- 

 dental to the northward, ranging east to Persia, Turkestan, and 

 Afghanistan to the Indian Peninsula, China, and Siam, south 

 to Borneo, Java, Celebes, New Guinea, and Australia. In Africa, 

 found in Egypt, throughout north-east Africa to Shoa, Seuegambia, 

 and South Africa. Eastern United States to Elorida. 



