SENEGAL PIAPEC. 137 



strongly tempted, at first, to believe this was a 

 distinct species ; but after a most careful investiga- 

 tion, we have concluded it to be the young, or im- 

 mature state of the species now described. 



The size is smaller, and the general form more 

 gracile, than in the European magpie: the whole 

 plumage of the body, both above and below, is of a 

 deep sooty black, the feathers very smooth and silky, 

 and with a soft gloss upon them. On the tertials, 

 and some of the secondaries, are close, transverse 

 bands of darkly shaded lines, similar to what are 

 seen on the tail-feathers of Lamprotornis l<mgi- 

 canda and some other birds. The primary quills 

 and tail are of a light sepia brown, the former being 

 almost white on their under surface, when held in 

 some directions of light. The tail-feathers, as indi- 

 cating the type which the genus represents, are 

 much narrowed towards their tips, and the shafts 

 are particularly strong ; the sharpness and curvature 

 of its claws shows that the bird, although possessed 

 of an ambulating foot, is yet more accustomed tQ 

 perch among trees than to walk upon the ground. 



Total length, 17 J; bill, gape, l T 7 o; wings, 6J; 

 tail beyond, 8; ditto, base, 11 ; tarsus, 1^; middle 

 toe and .claw, l^y ; lateral ditto, 1 ; hinder ditto, 

 the same. 



