Coraciiiloe of the Ethiopian Region. 279 



like the scapulars, with which they blend; upper tail-coverts 

 black, slightly edged with cobalt and tinged with rufous; tail- 

 feathers cobalt, inclining to whitish on the inner web ; middle 

 feathers black, as also a broad bar at the extremity of the tail 

 and the outer web of the external tail-feathers ; chin dark chest- 

 nut ; throat brilliant cobalt ; under wing- and tail-coverts chest- 

 nut, like the rest of the body, the latter tipped with black. 



Hab. West Africa. Galam [Verreaux) ; Grand Bassam 

 ( Verreaux) ; Fantee ( Ussher) ; llio Boutry [Pel) ; Gaboon [Port- 

 man, Gujon, Walker) ; Ogobai river {Du Chaillu). 



By some unaccountable mistake this species of Roller was for 

 a long time considered to be an inhabitant of New Guinea ; but 

 it is now well known to be a native of Western Africa only. 

 Here its range seems to be very limited ; for it is doubtful if it 

 extends so high as Senegal, which locality is given as one of its 

 haunts by Dr. Hartlanb, who indicates examples in the Leyden 

 Museum as the authority for the statement. In Prof. Schlegel's 

 recently published catalogue, however, no mention is made of 

 Senegambian specimens. The only notice of its habits, that I 

 am aware of, has been published by MM. Verreaux. They state 

 that at Grand Bassam it is only a passing visitant. Its habits 

 are similar to those of the foregoing bird, and it is fond of 

 tumbling in the air. It is rarer than any of the other Rollers, 

 especially in the locality above mentioned, which is not its true 

 home. I have received specimens from Governor Ussher from 

 Fantee, and from Mr. Walker from Gaboon; but not many have 

 come to hand. 



My description is taken from a Gaboon specimen, collected 

 by Mr. R. B. N. Walker. The specimens from Fantee are pre- 

 cisely similar. 



Subfam. II. Brachypteracian^. 



Conspectus generwn BrachypAeracianarmn. 



a. Rostrum a rictu meusuratiim tarsum supe- 



rans 1. JBrachyjiteracias. 



h. Tarsus longissimus, rostri longitudiuem 



multo superans 



a'. Alee miilto lougiores qiiam cauda .... 2. Geobiastes. 

 h'. Alge caudal lougitudiuem fere aequantes 3. Atelunds. 



