128 ACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS 



flocks on two occasions, at Gelalo in the middle of Togo 

 Plain and on the southern edge of the Hand, and writes : 

 " The individuals husied themselves upon the ground 

 apparently' searching for seeds and insects, prohahly chiefly 

 the latter, and on being approached Hew rapidl}- for a short 

 distance and alighted on the ground or on one of the thorn 

 bushes near our tents. The wattles were very conspicuous 

 at all times, the two pendant from the throat flapping about 

 as the birds, moved their heads, while the two on top of the 

 crown stood upright." 



These naked-headed specimens are of extremely rare 

 occurrence and the reason for it has never been explained ; 

 we only know that it is not a mere sign of breeding plumage, 

 for in the great masses of nesting birds it has seldom. been 

 met with, and we can only suppose it to l^e a sign of great 

 age. It would be an interesting subject for the aviculturist 

 to determine, if all the naales, and males only, are subject 

 to this change, and at what period of tlieir life it takes 

 place. 



Genus XII. ACRIDOTHERES. 



Bill yellow and somewhat Thrush-like in form, with the nostrils 

 exposed ; some bare skin next to the eyes, and the feathers of the crown 

 lanceolate. Wing pointed and longer than the tail ; tail nearly square, 

 tarsi, feet and claws yellow. 



Type. 



Acridotheres, Vieill. Analyse, p. 42 (1816) A. tristis. 



This is an Eastern genus of which one species, A. tristis, has become 

 acclimatised on many of the islands of the Indian Ocean. 



Acridotheres tristis. 



Paridisea tristis, Linn. S. N. i. p. 167 (1766) I'liilipjnnes. 



Acridotheres tristis, Sharpe, Cat B. M. xiii. p. 80 (1890) ; Shelley, B. 



Afr. I. No. 629 (1896). 

 Gracula gryllivora, Daud. Traite, p. 285 (1800). 



