22 Mr. MoT^TAOv's Remarks on 



As there is a little variation in the plumage of my specimen of 

 Arclea nigra from what has generally been described, and as the 

 plumage when first captured indicated immaturity, being very 

 ditFerent from what has been since assumed, I beg leave to sub- 

 join a short description of three states of plumage. 



The head and upper part of the neck speckled with pale brown 

 of different shades, having a slight tinge of rufous, becoming 

 darker on the lower part of the neck, the feathers being dusky in 

 the middle : the back, scapulars, and coverts of the wings dusky- 

 black, slightly margined with brown : quills and tail dusky-black, 

 the latter glossed with green : the feathers on the lower part of 

 the npck before pretty long and loose, hanging over the breast : 

 from thence to the tail dingy-white. On the back were two or 

 three leathers, apparently new, that were of a dark glossy green, 

 indicating a change of plumage. This description was taken in 

 June 1814, soon after the bird was captured. The bird conti- 

 nued very gradually to moult throughout the summer and win- 

 ter, becoming much darker on the head and neck, and much 

 greener on the back ; and by the beginning of February 1815 

 the upper part of the head and back of the neck became dusky- 

 black, glossed with green ; the lower neck before dusky-black, 

 and the whole upper part of the body, including Aving-coverts and 

 scapulars, dark shining green, similar in colour to that variety of 

 the Glossy Ibis known under the title of Tantalus viridis*. The 

 under parts of the plumage continued as at first. The bill, which 

 is full seven inches in length, has the upper mandible a tritie the 

 longest, and deflects a little at the point : the colour is dusky-red, 

 brighter at the base, and orange at the tipf-: irides light hazel: 

 the lore and orbits bare of feathers, and of a dull red : the legs 



* Pemumt s;n's blue. Arct. Zool. 



t Latham says greenjsli-grey, with a wliitish tip. 



and 



