Letters, Announcements, 5fc. 233 



lathami and Estrelda temporalis, I do not know of any species 

 which are found in those parts, while from the Queensland 

 ports six or eight species are annually received by the Sydney 

 dealers. From South Australia not more than two or three 

 species are procured, chiefly Amadina castanotis. 



The young of Donacola castaneothorax, on leaving the nest, 

 are of a uniform dull buff- colour. The fully adult bird differs 

 slightly from that described by Mr. Gould, having the upper 

 part of the flanks chestnut-broivn, barred alternately with black 

 and white. The lower part of the flanks is white barred with 

 black, more largely at the tip of the feathers ; the thighs, vent, 

 and under tail-coverts are jet black. The rump, upper tail-coverts, 

 and two middle tail-feathers are of a glossy waxy orange-yellow. 

 The space between the eyes and bill, line over the eye, ear- 

 coverts and throat, black, with a tinge of plum-colour in certain 

 lights ; the ear-coverts have a narrow line of brown down the 

 middle of each feather. The rest of the head is dark-brown, the 

 feathers with lighter edges. There is also a wash of reddish- 

 chestnut (much deeper in tint than that of the chest) over the 

 back and wings. Bill, legs, and toes dark horn-blue, the edges 

 of the mandibles lighter ; the claws dark-brown. The whole 

 length is 4-25 inches ; bill '4 by "B across the nostrils ; tail 1-5 ; 

 tarsus '55 ; wing from carpal joint 2*1 inches. The sexes are 

 alike in plumage. 



I am, &c., 



Edward P. Ramsay. 



Camp, Punjaub, 

 December 7, 1867- 

 Sir, — I think I have ascertained beyond doubt that Saxicola 

 capistrata is only the young male of S. picata. I come to this 

 conclusion, first, because, out of some twenty specimens of the 

 former shot and preserved, not one was either a female or an old 

 bird ; secondly, because I have three specimens, exactly bridging 

 the difference between the creamy-white head of S. capistrata 

 and the black of S. picata. In one the centre of the white head 

 is becoming dusky ; in another the top of the head is black, edged 

 with dusky, only leaving a broad superciliary creamy stripe con- 



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