1870. ] MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE BIRDS OF ANGOLA. 145 
HALCYON SENEGALENSIS. 
Haleyon senegalensis (Linn.); Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1869, p. 568, e¢ 
Monogr. dlced. pt. 7. 
Two males and two females. November 30th and December 1 (th, 
i808. Eye black ; feet black. 
MEROPS SUPERCILIOSUS. 
Merops superciliosus, Linn. ; Gray, Hand-l. of B. i. p. 99. 
Dr. Otto Finsch, in his very elaborate little essay on a collection 
of birds from Natal (Journ. f. Orn. 1867, p. 237), has very carefully 
gone into the question of the identity of Merops superciliosus, M. 
egyptius, and M. chrysocercus. I entirely agree with him, and 
believe that M. superciliosus is nothing but the young bird. Although 
the dull bronzy brown of this so-called species would seem at first a 
good character whereby to separate it, yet it must be noted that in 
‘every specimen [ have yet examined there has always been here and 
there a blue lustre to be seen on the back, indicating an approach to 
a more mature stage of plumage. In the so-called M. superciliosus 
the line below and above the eye is always pure white, as also is the 
chin ; but generally a blue lustre is very apparent on the eye-stripes ; 
and in adult birds (JZ. egyptius) very often a white feather or two 
may be distinguished among the blue superciliary feathers. 
I subjoin the dimensions of the specimens in my collection. 
Long. tot. rostr. al. 
in, in, in. 
a. 3. Madagascar (Verreaux) .......... 12°0 17 5-4 
Bere s Heypt.( Shelley)... nia 2 daeies oes ++, Ad7 bef 5°8 
c. Eeyvpt. Gaus, Be Bu Sessa l) » «,sis.0spee L129 1*7 5°7 
d, Keypt.(mue.. HBOS.) oo3 ese ot 12°3 i187 6°1 
e. d. Ondonga (Andersson) ............ 10°2 WEF 6:0 
FS. Q. Ondonga (Andersson) ............ 9:2 1°35 5°5 
9: PA CSH) otk, @ Scien i642) LOB 1°65 5'4 
A. River Gambia (mus. R. B. 8.)...... 10°5 sb 5°8 
i. River Gambia (mus. R. B.S.)...... 89 1-4 5:3 
Specimens f and 7 are possibly breeding females and have no long 
tail-feathers, which will account for the disparity in their length when 
compared with the other specimens. 
CENTROPUS SUPERCILIOSUS. 
Centropus superciliosus, Riipp.; Mont. P. Z.S. 1865, p. 91; 
Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisb. i. p. 326. 
a. Male. November 30th, 1868. Eye red ; beak and feet black. 
CHRYSOCOCCYX CUPREUS, 
Chrysococcyx cupreus (Bodd.); Gray, Gen. of B. ii. p. 463. 
Chrysscoccyx auratus (Gm.) ; Hartl. Orn. Westafr. p. 190. 
a, b. Two males. December Ist and 9th, 1868. Eye red; beak 
and feet black. 
Proc. Zoou. Soc.—1870, No. X. 
