A24, BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
and it seems to be entirely confined to South-western Africa. The 
localities where Anchieta met with it were the Rio Chimba, Quil- 
lengues, and Capangombe, where it was called by the natives 
“‘Melombeanganza.” The reddish purple colour on the throat and 
head distinguish this bird from L. mevesi. 
The following is a translation of the original description given by 
Professor Barboza du Bocage: Of small size ; head, neck, mantle, 
scapulars and lesser wing-coverts, throat and breast, brilliant violet 
purple, the feathers marked with an apical spot of golden copper ; 
lower back, rump, and abdomen, golden copper ; the primary quills 
blackish, with scarcely any steel-blue gloss; the secondaries more 
or less violet purple, and barred with dusky ; tail long, violet purple 
on the upper surface with transverse dusky bands; bill and feet 
black, iris brown. Total length 14 inches; culmen, 1:0; wing, 
6-0; tail, 8°3; tarsus, 1:55. 
Fig. Bocage, Orn. Angola, pl. vii. 
405. Lamprotornis ausrrauis, Smith. Burchell’s Glossy Starling. 
Jwida australis, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 170. 
This fine bird was discovered by the expedition under Sir A. Smith, 
in lat. 25° south, It was rarely seen to leave high trees, but to seek 
its food, which consisted of fruit and insects, exclusively upon them. 
We have received it from Mr. Arnott at Colesberg, and Mr. Ayres 
obtained it near the River Limpopo, where it was also met with by 
Mr. Frank Oates. Mr. Andersson states that it abounds in the 
Lake regions, and in the Damara country he found it abundant at 
Schmelen’s Hope on the upper sources of the Swakop River. He 
observes: “It is found singly or in pairs, and passes most of its 
time on large trees, but occasionally descends to the ground in 
search of insects, which, with berries, constitute its chief food. It 
is, however, somewhat omnivorous in its habits ; and I have observed 
its stomach to contain much sand. It is a very shy bird, but very 
lively, jerking its body and tail (the latter of which it can raise 
quite perpendicularly), and uttering all the while harsh clamorous 
notes.” Anchieta states that it is one of the commonest birds at 
Humbe. 
Plumage a bright resplendent green; ears violet-purple, with a 
half collar of the same colour on the back of the neck ; belly green- 
blue, with a steel gloss; tail graduated, the outermost feather of 
Be li bahay 
"wwe 
