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surface of body is hardly dusky black, and the breast feathers

have not white bases ; the glistening ends of feathers are not

obsolete ; the bill is wholly black ; and the tail is fully 5 inches

long. I took the total length on May 3 as 11J inches or perhaps

more, but as a skin it is possible that he might be stretched to

13 inches.


There remains but one other bird to be considered, viz.,

the Blue Whistling-bird (M. cceruleics) from China. The recent

appearance (June) of the patch of blue on the lesser coverts of

my bird not only brings it closer to M. cceruleus but practically

demonstrates that, when it was handled on May 3, its plumage

was far from being fully developed. Moreover, some of the

points I noted 011 the first three examinations, and from the

feathers cast in the moult, may have been marks of the im¬

mature but not of the adult bird, and may now be non-existent.

For instance, I cannot say that Bob now has a single brown

feather. The country of origin, moreover, cannot be proved to

be New Guinea ; and therefore we must not allow that point,

all-important if it could be substantiated, to unduly prejudice

our judgment. Speaking broadly, the two birds are nearly

identical; and several of the minor points of difference may be

simply differences of opinion as to a shade of colour ; moreover

I am in doubt as to what limits should be imposed on the state¬

ment of the Catalogue “ lower back and rump ashy black with

concealed longitudinal centres of white.” But it seems to me

that it would be straining the language a good deal to suppose

that the statement includes, not only the feathers which can be

correctly described as having concealed white centres, but also

those which are white on the whole or the greater part of one

web. And no mention is made of feathers 011 the breast having

concealed white centres.


This spring there has arrived at the Zoological Gardens a

nice specimen of the Blue Whistling-bird (M. cceruleus). I have

been able to obtain but momentary peeps at the bird, and cannot

speak definitely even of its outward appearance, and not at all of

the concealed markings. It seems to have the breast, etc.,

mottled in the same manner as my bird, to have the same white

spots on the wing, the same saddle-back appearance when

startled, the same boat-shaped tail, and in general shape, action,

and movement, to be just the same; on the other hand, it

seemed to be smaller, less stoutly built, and to be very much

more blue. These were my impressions ; but it is exceedingly

difficult and dangerous to compare in one’s mind the particulars

of one bird with those of another in a different place and under



