90 Fairy Blue -Birds. 



I n'oiilo hero remark that all the dpscrijitions except iurcom, 

 which is from life, ai-e taken from the skins in the British Museum; 

 the habitat is taken from the Brit. Mus. Cat., Vol. III. 



Adult Male: Crown of head, nape, upper and under tail- 

 coverts, lessei- and me:iium wing-coverts rich cobalt blue; back, 

 rump, scapulars, and the whole of the under surface, except the 

 throat and chest, deep purplish blue; greater and primaiy wing- 

 coverts, quills and tail black; tips of greater coverts and outer 

 webs of inner secondaries rich cobalt blue, central tail-feathers 

 washed with purplish; throat and chest velvety black: bill and 

 legs black; iris led. Total length 10 inches, tail 4|. 



Sexes said to be alike. "Habitat: Philippine Island." 

 (B.M.C.). 



The Basilian Faiky Blup: Bird (/. melanochlamys) . 

 Adult Male: Crown of head, nape, and upper hind -neck 

 shining cobalt-blue, with a purplish sheen; lower hind-neck, 

 mantle, and scapulars, I'ich velvety fblack; lower back and rump 

 dull purplish -co'balt, upper tail -coverts 'brighter "blue; tail black 

 with the central feathers and margins of outer ones washed pur- 

 plish; wings black, with the lesser and median coverts purplish 

 blue; the tips of greater coverts and the outer webs and inner 

 eecondaries also purplish -cobalt; lores, sides of face, throat, and 

 chest velvety black; remainder of undersurface dull purplish - 

 cobalt; bill and legs black; iiis carmine-re 1. Total length IG 

 inche-s, tail 4. 



"Habitat: Is. of Basilan, Philippines." (B.M.p.). 

 The Javax Fairy Bluebird. (/. turcosa). 



To many of my readers this gorgeous species (the same 

 may be said of all) will be fairly familiar from the specimen (cf) 

 exhibited by Mons. Pauvvels, at the Horticultural Hall, Nov- 

 ember, 1911; from this , bird the studies for our frontispiece 

 were made; thus Mr. Goodchild has had ample time to put 

 good work into his drawing. In 1910 I had the pleasure of 

 seeing this bird and its mate disporting themselves in Mr. 

 Astley's aviaries at Benhani Valence, but as Mr. Astley 

 himself has written of his birds, I will not occupy space, 

 save to say, that it is impossible to exaggerate their great 

 beauty, and that they were very restless under observation— 

 we essayed to photograph them, but only wasted plates! 



'The diet of the whole genus in a state of nature is 

 fruit and insects, and a similar dietary, also insectile mixture, 

 should be supplied to it in captivity. 



Adult Male: The whole of the upper plumage and amlcr 

 tail-coverts glistening turquoise -blue, tiit crowa of the head paler 



