44 



[FROM THE REPORT OF THE EXPEDITION FOR EXPLORING 

 CENTRAL AFRICA, 1836,] 



BIRDS. 



Genus FALCO. Bechst. 



Fako simitorquata. Above ashy blue ; rump, and a narrow half 

 collar in front of interscapulars, white ; beneath silky white, 

 quills and tail brown, with transverse bands of white spots ; 

 tip of tail feathers white. Length 7J inches. Female. 

 Back a rich clear reddish brown. Inhabits the country near 

 old Latakoo. 



Genus MELACONOTUS. tiw. 



Melaconotus similis. Neck and head bluish grey ; back a 

 bright yellowish green ; beneath yellow, the breast tinted with 

 orange; greater wing coverts tipt with yellow ; quills brown, 

 outer vanes yellowish green ; tail olive green, tips and edges of 

 inner vanes of feathers yellow. Length 7 inches. Inhabits 

 the country beyond Kurrichaine. 



Melaconotus australis. Top of head brown ; eyebrows white ; 

 edged above and below with black ; neck and back grey brown ; 

 chin whitish ; throat, breast, and belly, pale rusty buff ; wing 

 coverts bright chesnut, outer vanes of most of the quills the 

 same ; inner vanes blackish, edged towards bases with buff ; 

 tail black, all the feathers tipt with white, and the outer vane 

 of the outermost one of each side the same colour till near 

 quill. Length 7J inches. Inhabits the country north of 

 Kurrichaine. 



This, and the last described species, will certainly not belong 

 to the same group, and are now only classed together till an opportu- 

 nity occurs of comparing them with the various forms of the 

 ThawmophilincB, &c. a step I have adopted with some satisfaction, from 

 finding representatives of both united, by Swainson, in the Genus.* 

 The first species has its representative (though on a larger scale) in the 

 Melaconotus Blanchotii, and the last, in Lanius erythropterus. The 

 general character of the plumage, and the habits of these four birds, 

 are however very different. The two first are nearly alike, both 

 seek their food upon trees in exposed situations, and do not readily 

 leave one for another, nor endeavour to conceal themselves. The 

 two last, on the other hand, generally resort to dense thickets, 

 and keep almost constantly advancing nearly in straight lines, unless 

 obstructed. 



riffith ' 8 Traaslation of the Anim al Kingdom, vol. 8, page 678. 



