Mr. T. Ayres on the Oniithohgij of Transvaal. 293 



dedly tinged with green ; the entire mantle, instead of being 

 black, as in Nos. 1, 2, and 3, is dark brown, the wing-coverts 

 being slightly edged with a paler brown ; on the under sur- 

 face the feathers of the throat have decided dark shaft-marks 

 (which are quite absent in Nos. 2 and 3, and barely percep- 

 tible in No. 1) ; the pectoral striae- are broader, and the flanks 

 and crissum more strongly tinged with fulvous than in the 

 preceding specimens. I imagine that this individual is still 

 in immature dress. 



No. 5, $ , June 12th. Wing 4-3 inches, bill 1 -8. Bill dull 

 blood-red, dusky towards the tip; tarsi and feet as in No. 1. 



This specimen resembles No. 4, except that the greenish 

 blue of the wing is a little brighter, and that the under sur- 

 face is less striated and less fulvous, resembling the same 

 portion of the plumage in No. 2. 



These details seem to point to the inference that in the 

 fully adult males the mantle is black, while in younger males 

 and in females it is dark brown. — J. H. G.] 



Halcyon chelicuti (Stanley) . Striped Kingfisher. 



No. 1, ^ , June 3rd. Irides dark umber; bill dusky, but 

 with the gape and basal part of the lower mandible red ; tarsi 

 and feet dusky on the upper surfaces and reddish on the 

 under. 



No. 2, c?, July 23rd. Irides dusky umber; bill dusky 

 (nearly black), but with the basal part of the lower mandible 

 pale crimson ; tarsi and feet brick-red, with the upper sur- 

 faces brown. Stomach contained a mouse and several grass- 

 hoppers. 



No. 3, S , July 23rd. Irides &c. as in No. 2. 



No. 4, ^ , July 27th. Irides &c. as Nos. 1, 2, and 3, but 

 with the brown part of the bill tinged with red. 



No. 5, ? , June 3rd. Irides &c. as in No. 1. 



No. 6, ? , July 27th. Irides dusky ; bill light reddish 

 brown, with the basal part of the under mandible crimson ; 

 tarsi and feet as in No. 1. 



All the above-mentioned specimens were procured in the 

 Rustenburg district, where this pretty species is as common 



