PHILEPITTA JALA 



Philepitta jala. 



Philepitta jala (Bodd.) Sclat. Cat. B. M. xiv. p. 410 (1888); Sibree, 

 Ibis, 1891, p. 412; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 2 (1896). 



Adult Male. Black with the bend of the wing yellow, and with fleshy 

 caruncles about the eye green ; bill and legs greyish black. Total length 

 6 inches; culmen G"65, wing 3-2, tail 1-5, tarsus - 9. 



Adult Female. Above olive green with a yellowish shade on the rump; 

 beneath pale yellowish, with broad olive green edges to the feathers. Total 

 length 5-7 inches, culmen 0-65, wing 3-2, tail 1-5, tarsus 0-9. 



Immature Male. Black, all the feathers margined with yellow, and with 

 a bare patch round the eye. 



The Black velvet Asity is said to be confined to the forest 

 regions of the eastern side of Madagascar. 



Here, according to M. Grandidier, they are to be met 

 with generally in pairs running along or climbing up the 

 branches in search of the buds and fruit on which they feed. 

 They are graceful and active in their movements and are not 

 shy. The flight is straight but not sustained for any great 

 distance, and the males have a soft Thrush-like song. The 

 eggs are pale bluish white and measure l - 2 inches by 0"85. 



Owing to the numerous native dialects spoken in Mada- 

 gascar, the present species is not only known as " Asity," but 

 according to the Rev. J. Sibree as, " Variamanangana " in the 

 Betsileo country, and as " Tsoitsoy " by the Betsimisaraka 

 people. 



Philepitta schlegeli. 



Philepitta schlegeli, Schleg., Sclat. Cat. B. M. xiv. p. 411 (1888); 

 Sibree, Ibis, 1891, p. 442 ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 3 (1896). 



Adult Male. Upper half of head and the nape black ; upper back 

 bright yellow passing into olive green on the remainder of the upper parts ; 

 beneath uniform bright yellow ; a large bluish green eye-wattle. Bill 

 black, feet slaty brown, iris pale brown. Total length 5 inches, culmen 05, 

 wing 3, tail 1-5, tarsus 0'8. 



