SHARP-TAILED VINAGO. 99 



some of the secondaries are margined with grey. 

 The elongated tail-feathers have their upper surface 

 of a greyish-brown ; the remainder are of a deep grey 

 at the base, succeeded by a black bar, and terminat- 

 ing with bluish -grey. The under surface of all the 

 tail-feathers is black for two-thirds of their length 

 from the base, the tips being of a pale pearl-grey. The 

 tarsi are partly dotted with green feathers, the re- 

 mainder and toes red ; the claws are grey and much 

 hooked. The bill is pretty stout, the tip arched 

 and inflated, and of a leaden or grey colour ; the soft 

 or basal part is of a deep bluish-grey. 



This kind is also a native of Java, where it is 

 widely disseminated, and was first discovered by 

 MM. Reinwardt and Diard, who forwarded specimens 

 to the Parisian and Netherland Museums. 



In addition to the species here described, the fol- 

 lowing are found in India and its islands : V. mili- 

 taris, psittacea, pompodora, and vernans. In Africa, 

 the V. Australis, calva, and Abyssinica, and a new 

 species from the Himalaya has been figured by Mr 

 Gould in his beautiful Century of Birds from that 

 district, under the title of Vinago sphenura. 



We now pass on to a beautiful group : It is the 



