Coraciidse of the Ethiopian Region. 



193 



the slightest specific distinction in adult specimens from dif- 

 ferent localities, the variations in plumage appearing to depend 

 on the age of the specimen. The older the bird, the more ruddy 

 the plumage, the olive-green colouring being most pronounced 

 in the younger stages. The following are the measurements of 

 a series of specimens in my collection ; and the result obtained 

 confirms the opinion expressed by Dr. Finsch, that the differ- 

 ences of size by which Dr. von Heuglin seeks to separate the 

 East-African birds are not of specific value. 



From these measurements it seems that the bill and tarsus, 

 the most trustworthy characters, are the same in examples from 

 all parts of Africa, while the lengths of wing and tail, which may 

 depend upon the completeness of the plumage, present great 

 variation. 



Dr. von Heuglin {I. c.) writes: — "After a comparison of 

 specimens of this species now lying before me from Eastern, 

 Western, and Southern Africa, the first (East African) appear 

 worthy of separation as a distinct race. In these birds the bill 

 is considerably longer, the wing shorter, the white nape-spot is 

 scarcely washed with blue, the top of the head, the hind neck, 

 the back, and tertiary wing-coverts slightly with green. In the 

 western and southern birds measured by me, the length of the 

 bill was 14-15'", that of the wings 7". 



" We obtained the White-necked Roller in the Abyssinian 

 coast-land, in the warmer parts of Abyssinia, Kordofan, and on 

 the White Nile, where it affects chiefly the wooded region. It 

 is far scarcer than C. abyssinica, and leads a more quiet, solitary 

 life than its congeners," 



SER. III. VOL. I. O 



