IOO MlLLIGAN, Description of a New Gyntnorhina, [ist Oct 



is controlled by age. In the oldest and full-plumaged males the 

 vent patch was much purer in colour, smaller, and less conspicuous 

 than in the younger birds. In the latter the patch encompasses 

 a greater portion of the plumage, and frequently is streaked with 

 a darker colour. Judging from two skins only, the converse 

 (as regards the extent of the patch) appears to exist in Gymnorhina 

 longirostris. In the latter species, however, a narrow tract of 

 chocolate-brown above and contiguous to the vent-patch, and 

 absorbing part of the black plumage, indicates the less matured 

 plumage. 



In the adult males in full and mature plumage, the black portions 

 of the latter had a bluish-black sheen, thus making a striking 

 contrast with its snow-white portions. It is, perhaps, stating 

 common knowledge to say that the bills of the adult birds showed 

 a high polish, and the colour gradated from whitish at base to 

 blue at point, and that those of the young birds showed a horn 

 colour, with little polish or without polish. In the adult male, 

 which is before mentioned as having almost attained full plumage, 

 the only interruption to the pure white plumage of the upper 

 surface was a few brownish-coloured feathers between the 

 shoulders. The wings and tail also showed a tone of brown, as also 

 the abdomen, which had in addition white and grey margins to 

 the feathers of its lower portion. The vent-patch was not purely 

 white, but only streaked with that colour. 



As the skin upon which Mr. Campbell based his specific descrip- 

 tion of the female of Gymnorhina dorsalis proved afterwards to 

 be an immature bird, I append the description of an adult female 

 in full plumage : — Colour generally sheeny, deep blue-black, ex- 

 cepting the hind neck, shoulders, and edges of wing, which are 

 uniform snow-white, and also excepting the mantle, the feathers 

 of which are black, with conspicuous and well-defined snow-white 

 margins. The over-all measurements of the adult female are 

 shorter than those of the male. Adopting the measurement 

 formula before given, I found such measurements in two adult 

 females to be as follows : — I2f x 3f and 12^x4. The culmen 

 also was shorter in length, the measurements of that feature 

 of same skins being 2^ and 2 inches. The depth of the terminal 

 tail-band was proved to be 1 f- and if inches. In five young- 

 females the same band measured 7.\, 2, 2f, 2f, and i\ inches. 



In a young male (I do not refer to a fledgling) the head was 

 brownish-black ; nuchal band white, succeeded by another band 

 of greyish-white feathers with black centres ; feathers of the 

 back brownish-black with white or grey margins ; shoulder edges 

 of wing pure white ; bill whitish at base, becoming blue at point. 

 Over-all measurements, I2-J- x 3f ; culmen, 1.9; depth of tail- 

 band, if inches. 



In a very young female, shot in the month of July, the head 

 was brownish-black, without sheen ; nuchal band dusky white ; 

 feathers of upper mantle greyish, with blackish-brown sections ; 

 and of lower mantle brownish, with whitish margins ; under 



