182 Dr. von Heuglin on Hypocolius ampelinus^ Bp. 



California, as was originally believed, but from Abyssinia ! A 

 generic separation of this very aberrant form is quite necessary. 

 In my opinion it belongs to the family of Camjjephayina. The 

 beak and feet are very much like those of the genus Lanicterus. 

 The tip of the upper mandible is a little hooked, and before it a 

 distinct indentation appears. The wing-feathers are of middle 

 length, the first is rudimentary, the third longest, the second and 

 fourth of nearly equal length ; the inner vane of the second is dis- 

 tinctly angulated ; the short feet are robust and distinctly scutel- 

 lated. The tail is rather long and subcuneate, or strongly rounded. 

 In the year 1850 1 received, from Massowah, through the interven- 

 tion of the French consul, M. de Goutin, some birdskins from 

 the low Abyssinian coast-region, and amongst these a female 

 skin of an unknown bird, which I introduced into my note-book 

 under the name of Ceblept/ris isabellina, although the stiJQF, rigid 

 feathers of the lower back were entirely wanting. 



It was Dr. Hartlaub who directed my attention to the pro- 

 bability of my Ceblepyris isabellina being identical with Bona- 

 parte's Hypocolius ampelinus — a fact of which I am now fully 

 convinced. Hypocolius ampelinus being as yet one of the rarest 

 birds in collections, I may be allowed to give a figure and de- 

 scription of it. 



Hypocolius ampelinus, Bp., Consp. i. p. 336 (1850). — 

 Ceblepyris isabellina, Heugl., Syst. Uebers. Vog. N.-O.-Afr., 

 Sitzungsber. K. Akad. Wien, xix. p. 284. no. 308 (1855-56). 

 (Plate V.) 



(J . Subcristatus ; cristse plumis laxis, sericeis ; delicate isabel- 

 lino cinereus ex parte vinaceo lavatus; pileo, gula et sub- 

 caudalibus purius pallide isabellinis ; margine laterali 

 frontis, loris, regione parotica fasciaque nuchali nitide nigri- 

 cantibus; remigibus primariis nigris, apice late albis; se- 

 cundariis nigricantibus pogonio externo et apice cineras- 

 cente marginatis; tertiariis isabellino-cinereis, basi nigri- 

 cantibus ; subalaribus sordide albidis ; rectricibus notseo 

 concoloribus, apicem versus magis magisve nigricantibus ; 

 pectoris lateribus cinereo adumbratis ; rostro et pedibus 

 pallide cornels, illo apice fusco-nigricante : Long. tot. circa 

 9", rostr. a fr. 6"', al. 3" 9'", caud. 4" 3"', tars. 11'" poll. 



$ . Vix minor, ex olivascente griseo-isabellina ; pileo, ciliis et 



