440 Mr. D. A. Bannerman on the African [Ibis^ 



original description, type locality, and range as shown by 

 the magnificent series in the British Musenm^ and stated 

 the number of skins in the National collection which I have 

 examined and rearranged. 



In giving tlie range, only skins which I have examined 

 personally have been utilized, unless otherwise mentioned. 



African Dickurid.e. 



1. Dicriirus modestus modestus. 



Dicrurus modestus Hartl. Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1849, p. 495 

 — Type locality : Prince's Island. 



Chief characters. Back velvety-black ; crown of head 

 glossed with green. Size large. Wings 131-139 mm., 

 average 134 mm. Quill-lining dark; tail markedly forked; 

 bill very heavy. 



Range. Confined to Prince's Island. 



Number of skins in the British Museum : 12. 



2. Dicrurus modestus cor acinus. 



Dicrurus coracinus Verr. Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1851, p. 311 

 — Type locality : Gaboon. 



Chief characters. Similar to D. m. modestus, but smaller. 

 Wings 121-133 mm., average 128 mm. A single bird from 

 the Upper Congo has an exceptional wing-measurement of 

 136 mm. (the l)irds on the coast are relatively smaller than 

 those inland). Tail slightly shorter ; bill shorter and less 

 heav}'. 



Range. Gaboon, Cameroon. Fernando Po, Nigeria,Uganda, 

 Upper Congo, North Angola. 



Number of skins in the British Museum: 25. 



Dicrurus adsimilis and subspecies. 

 In this division I include : — 



D. adsimilis adsimilis. 

 D. adsimilis divaricatus. 

 D. adsimilis atactus. 

 I Avas at first greatly nonplussed by finding D, adsimilis 

 divaricatus and D. adsimilis atactus both ranging to the 



