ON TWO PLOCEINE BIRDS. 



159 



Nevertheless, both in the syrinx and in these last two points, as well 

 as in some others, especially osteological ones *, Leptosoma is not quite 

 typically Coraciine, and it may therefore be retained, as was proposed by p.z. S. 1883, 

 Mr. Sclater, as the type of a peculiar family, Leptosomidae. This should P- *^' 

 be placed in the series of Passeriform Anomalogonatous birds as denned 

 by Prof. Grarrodt, next to the Coraciidse, with which its relations are 

 most intimate. Indeed it is possible that, when the anatomy of the allied 

 genera, Brachyptercicias, Geobiastes, and Atelornis^ becomes fully known, 

 the truth of Mr. Sharpe's proposition , that Leptosoma should be relegated 

 to the position merely of a subfamily of the Coraciidae, may be established. 



28. ON TWO RARE PLOCEINE BIRDS NOW OR LATELY P.z.s.1880, 

 LIVING IN THE SOCIETY'S MENAGERIE. || p ' 475 ' 



(Plate VII.) 



1. VlDUA SPLEKDENS. (Plate VII. fig. 1.) 



Vidua splendens, R/eichen. Orn. Centralbl. 1879, p. 114. 



On the 17th of July, 1878, Mr. Archibald Brown presented to the 

 Society, with some other birds, a specimen of a small Weaver-bird, which 

 being then " out of colour," was entered on the list of additions as Vidua 

 principalis, the common and well-known "Pin-tailed Whydah bird." 

 Last summer this bird had assumed an entirely blue-black plumage, like 

 that of Hypochera nitens, also a common cage-bird. But I was struck by 

 the appearance of the beak and feet, these being of a bright coral-red 

 colour, whereas in H. nitens they are only pale flesh-coloured. The 



Vide Grandidier's work, Atlas, Ois. pis. 85, 86. 

 t P.Z.S. 1874, p. 119, and 1. c. 1878, p. 99. 



\ The osteology of these genera, with some other points, is figured in Grandidier*g 

 work on pla. 97-99, 101, 102, 103a. 

 Ibis, 1871, p. 187. 

 || Proc. Zool. Soc. 1880, pp. 475-477 PL XL VII. Read June 15, 1880. 



