62 LAMPROTORNIS AUSTRAL [S 



Lamprotornis australis. 



Megalopterus australis, Smith, Rep. Exped. Centr. Afr. p. 52 (lH3Gj 



Kurrichaine. 

 Lamprotornis australis, Rsichen. Vog. Afr. ii. p. 707 (1903). 

 Chalcopsar australis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. l-5rt (1890) ; Shelley, 



B. Afr. I. No. 59-2 (1S96). 

 Lamprotornis burchellii, Smitli, 111. Zool. S. Afr. Av. pi. Vi (IbiOj 



Kurrichaine. 



Adult male. Upper parts glossy green with a reddish violet reflection 

 on the hind neck ; rump lilac bronze passing into steel blue in front and 

 on the upper tail-coverts ; tail violet blue with numerous obscure blackish 

 bars and very narrow green edges to the feathei'S ; inner two-thirds of the 

 lesser wing-coverts reddish violet and copper ; a few obscure blackisli blue 

 subterminal marks to the median-coverts and scapula.rs ; secondaries liluer 

 with obsolete blackish bars and narrow green margins ; in front of eyes 

 black ; clieeks and ear-coverts violet, the latter sliadcd witii bronze ; chin, 

 throat and sides of chest glossy green ; remainder of under parts lilack 

 glossed with steel blue shading into lilac bronze on centre of breast. " Iris 

 dark hazel; bill and feet black" (Buckley). Total length 12-5 inches, 

 culmen 085, wing 6-7, tail 6'0, tarsus 1-8. S , Transvaal (T. Ayres). 



Adult femala. Similar to the male. Wing 6-5, tail 5 7. ? , 17. 7. 85, 

 Limpopo (T. Ayres). 



Immature. Duller, with no coppery bronze on the plumage ; rump blue ; 

 wings and tail greener with scarcely any trace of bars ; centre of breast dull 

 black. Wing 65, tail 57, Makalaka (Bradshaw). 



Burchcll's Glossy Starling ranges from the Cunene and 

 Limpopo Elvers into Cape Colony. 



The most northern range known for the species is Jliniibe, 

 on the right bank of the Upper Cunene Elver, where Anchieta 

 records it as one of the commonest birds. Mr. Fleck has 

 procured specimens at the Okavango Eiver, in Kalahari, 

 Damaraland and at the Orange Elver, and Air. Schlettwein in 

 Kaokoland. Anderssou writes : " This very handsome species 

 abounds in the Lake regions ; in the Damara country it first 

 became abundant at Schmelen's Hope, on the upper sources 

 of the Swakop. It is found singly or in pairs, and passes most 

 of its time on large trees, but occasionally descends to the 



