26



Dr. E. Hopkinson,



which is large and strong and looks out of all proportion to the size

of the bird, is horn-coloured ; the cere a paler shade of the same

colour. Legs black, iris dark brown. Length 12 in.


“ No. 2. A younger but nearly adult bird. . . . Like


No. 1, with a grey head, but the green of the rump and under

surface was not so bright and there was no sign of vermilion on the

angle of the wing or thighs.


“ No. 3. A young but fully feathered bird with just a few

tufts of down showing on the back and breast; taken from the nest.

The whole crown from forehead to nape bright brick-red (or rather

a colour between brick-red and pink), with a pale wash of the same

colour over the rest of the head, the ground colour of which is

brownish-grey as in the adult. This red persists for four or five

months after the bird leaves the nest, and during that time

gradually changes into the grey of the adult, though some signs of it

last till the first moult. In other respects the plumage resembled

No. 2.”


A. Whole head (including forehead), neck, and-throat, brown-

grey, each feather with a darker centre. In the centre of the nape,

however, is a dark green patch which shades into the back. On the

chin and sides of throat the grey is tinged with dusky brick colour.

The upper chest is a grey-green with no dark centres to the feathers.

General colour above green, duller on the back and brighter on the

wings and rump. Flight feathers black, with narrow green edges

above and dark grey below. Tail black above, sepia brown below.

Edge and internal surface of angle of wing and narrow “ anklets ”

round the lower end of the leg feathers orange-vermilion. Under

surface grass-green ; the breast, owing to the presence of dark

centres to the feathers, duller than the other lower parts.


B. Forehead and anterior third of the crown brick-red (or

rather a colour between brick-red and pinkish). The green nape-

patch seen in A. not very marked. Rest of head and remainder of

plumage much the same as in A., but the green is throughout rather

brighter and also tinged on the upper surface with bluish, and with

yellow or yellowish on the lower. The red, too, on the wings and

legs is more extensive and a bright vermilion or true soldier-scarlet

without any orange shade.



