60 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



93. Ooracias Nuchalis/^ Sw., b. of w. Af., p. 



110; G. Orinita, Shaw ; C. Levaillantii, Rupp. var. ; 



Shaw, Vol. 7, p. 391. 

 General colour rufous, tinged with green on the back, 

 inclined to red on the under side, with the shaft of the 

 feathers white ; wings dull rufous green, witli purple reflec- 

 tions ; quill-feathers dark blue. Tail blue, with the two 

 centre feathers dull- green, even at the end, but rather long. 

 Head more rufous than the body ; forehead and chin buff- 

 coloured ; cheeks rusty red, with white shafts to many of the 

 feathers. Total length, 14" ; wing, 8|" ; tail, 6J". 



Le Vaillant procured this bird in Kaffraria. I have received it from 

 tlie neighbourhood of Otjimbinque, in Damaralaud ; and one specimen 

 was shot near Middelburg, on the Eastern side of the colony, and sent 

 to me by the late Mr. J. O'Eeilly, magistrate of that place. 



94. Coracias Garrula, Linn., pi. Eni., p. 486. 



Head, neck, breast, and belly are of a light pea-green ; 

 back and scapulars reddish-brown ; the ridge of the wings 

 and upper coverts rich deep blue ; the greater coverts pale 

 green ; the quills dusky, inclining to black, and mixed with 

 deep blue ; the rump blue ; tail somewhat forked ; the lower 

 parts of the feathers are dusky green ; middle parts pale 

 blue ; tips black. Length, about 12". 



Said by Hartlaub, B. W. Af., p. 29, to inhabit Natal. I have not 

 a specimen to refer to, and the foregoing description is taken from 

 Bewick's British Birds. 



95. Coracias Abyssinica. (Lath) shaw, Voi. 



7, p. 393; Albifrons, Shaw; C. Senegalensis, Gmel., 

 Edw. B., PI. 327, var.; Cuvier, Vol. 2, p. 186. 

 Head, neck, wing-coverts, and under-parts, light bluish 

 green ; forehead and chin, light buff; back, dark-brown 

 buff; shoulders, azure-blue ; quill-feathers of wings and two 

 middle tail-feathers black, the former reflecting blue, the 

 latter green ; base of all tail-feathers, except the outermost, 

 dark blue-black. The outermost feather on each side very 

 much prolonged, that part which exceeds the others being 

 very narrow and black. Rump blue. Length, 18" ; wing, 

 6|" ; tail, centre feathers, 6|" ; exterior pair, 11". 



I have received this species from one or two places along the nor- 

 thern border of the colony ; also from the neighbourhood of Springbok 

 Fontein, in Namaqualand, and from Damaraland. In the colony it is 

 looked upon as a great rarity. 



* Swainson's typu specimen is in the Cambridge Museum. 



