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PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



VOL. XXVIII. 



together with the innei-niost secondaries, l)rownish gray, the latter and 

 some of the inner o-i-cator coverts witli hirge spots of rich metallic 

 golden g-reen; under surface vinaceous hivender, on the sides of neck 

 shading into the bi'ownish of the upper parts, and fading posteriorly 

 into almost pure white on the anal region, the chin whitish, the flanks 

 tinged with ))ro\vnish, th(^ longer under tail-coverts mostly black; 

 lining of wing chestnut. ''Iris lii-own; feet dark i)urple; bill dark 

 horn blue, nearly black."" 



Measurements of the type compared with two specimens of true 

 chal(X>f^pU(i from western Africa are as follows: 



The original Chalcopelm chalcospila'^ was based on ''La Tourterelle 

 du Senegal (Turtur senegalensis)" of Brisson'' as is shown by Wagler's 

 citations, and particularly his description which in all essential par- 

 ticulars is identical, except for its verbal construction, with that of 

 Brisson;'" and the form of the species to bear the name chalcospila is 

 therefore that from western Africa. The onl}^ other old name that 

 needs mention here is l\'ristera paralUnosiigma Wiirtemberg,'' which, 

 however, is but a renaming of Ohalcopelia chalcosjnla^ and therefore 

 not available for any of its races. 



The present comparison has been made with birds from near the 

 mouth of the Kongo, which are probably' the same as true chalco><2)^la 

 from Senegal, since in measurements and color characters they agree 

 with the original account; and they are, moreover, doubtless identical 

 with Chalcopelta, chalcospila erlaju/er'i'^ from northern Angola, which 

 Doctor lleichenow descril)ed under the supposition that the East Afri- 

 can form was the typical one, in which he was, of course, mistaken, 

 as above shown; so that unless C. c. crlaiu/cri can be proved distinct 

 from the Senegal bird it must be entered as a .synonym. The Somali 

 Land race, Chalcopella chalcospila somalica Erlanger, -' is apparentl}" 



nColumha chalcospUos Wagler, Syst. Avium, 1827 [Columba, sp. 83), p. 258 

 (Senegal). 



^'Ornith., I, 17B0, p. 122, pi. x, fig. 1 (Senegal). 



''It may be noted in this connection that Linn;eus (Sy.st. Nat., 12th ed., I, 1766, 

 p. 284) quotes this same name of Brisson's under his Cohouha afra, though his 

 diagnosis is perfectly clear and refers to the bird with blue or purple wing spots 

 {CJialcopelia afra). 



''Nauinannia, 1857, p. 4.34. 



<'Reichenow, Journ. f. Ornith., 1902, p. 134. 



/Journ. f. Ornith., 1905, p. 134 (Salakle, southern Somali Land). 



