210



different circumstances. According to the Catalogue, this is a

very well known species, pretty generally distributed over China,

and “ common and resident in the central and southern portions

of the country.” The total length is given as 12 inches, but the

tail as only 4.6 ; and the claws are stated to be brown, whereas

those of my bird are still (July 9), as they always have been,

deep black.



I had intended obtaining the aid of an aviculturist and

having a full examination made of the new plumage of my bird,

and to have closed this paper with a report of the result, but on

July 8 I was startled by his casting one of his brand-new pri¬

maries, and by the “ teased ” look of the wing-coverts ; another

was cast on the following day, and two more and some secon¬

daries on July 10. The intense heat, the want of exercise, and

the unnatural food seem to have produced a heated condition of

the blood and this seemingly false moult ; so I determined to

examine him forthwith, and did so on July 9. It will be seen that

the resultof this examination differs in some important points from

that of May 3, but I simply give the particulars as I found them.

I may add, however, that 011 May 3 I had an expert in colours

(not an aviculturist) to assist me, who fully agreed with the

statement of colours already given, and who, by the way, was a

witness to the produced ends of the tail shafts. On this occasion

I had splendid light, and Bob was reasonably quiet.


Under side of tail black ; under tail-coverts purplish blue ;

thighs black ; abdomen deep black, with neither blue tips nor

white centres ; all the rest of the under surface black, profusely

mottled with bright blue ends to all the feathers. These, com¬

mencing on the chest with white shafts, and steadily increasing

in size as the abdomen is approached, have concealed longi¬

tudinal centres of white. Ear-coverts and sides of face and neck

black or purplish black, each feather boldly tipped with silvery

blue. When holding himself erect, a side view of the neck has

the appearance of a richly spangled mane, the glistening tips

running down the neck in fairly well-defined channels. Lores

black with no bright tips, the black extending back in a distinct

unspotted line above the eye but scarcely behind it. Head,

neck, and mantle apparently black, but no black base to forehead

visible ; on the forehead, and completely occupying the forehead,

there are two “ comets ” of light silvery-blue tips, with their

tails streaming back along each side of the crown. Hind centre

of crown, nape, and front centre of mantle black, with only a



