388 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON BIRDS FROM MADAGASCAR. [June 9, 
olive-green, rather lighter on the under surface ; throat pure white ; 
upper part of the breast and centre of the abdomen pale rufous, 
becoming lighter on the latter; flanks olive-green ; bill dark horn- 
brown, nearly black on the upper mandible and on the basal half of 
the lower mandible; the tip of the latter and edge of the former 
pale yellowish white; legs dark horn-brown, claws light brown. 
Total length 6°3 inches; of bill from front 0°6, from gape 0°88 ; 
wing 2°7; tail 2°5; tarsus 0°9. 
Female (?). Generally similar to the last, but somewhat duller and 
more greenish on the upper surface; the head obscurely marked 
with dark brown, and the sienna of the head not well defined; the 
lores and the spot behind the eye dirty white and indistinct ; throat 
white tinged with yellow; the rufous of the breast paler, less ex- 
tended, and the middle of the abdomen yellowish olive. Total 
length 6:2 inches; of bill from front 0°6; wing 2°5 ; tail 2°45. 
Fam. NECTARINIID. 
4. NECTARINIA SOUIMANGA. 
Nectarinia souimanga (Gm.); Hartl. Faun. Madag. p. 52 (1861) ; 
Roch and E. Newt. Ibis, 1862, p. 272; Scl. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 162; 
E. Newt. Ibis, 1863, p. 342; A. Newt. P. Z. S. 1865, p. 834; 
Grand. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 355; Schl. & Poll. Faune 
Madag. p. 70 (1868). 
Several specimens of this Sun-bird were in the collection. 
Fam. HirunpDINID2&. 
5. PHEDINA MADAGASCARIENSIS. 
Phedina madagascariensis, Hartl. Faun. Madag. p. 27 (1861). 
Hirundo borbonica, Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. Ois. p. 68 (1868). 
““Nossi Vola, Oct. 19th and 28th, 1869. Native name Chiden 
Chiden. Eyes brown. Three eggs. Local.” 
Dr. Hartlaub (/. c.) separates the Madagascar Phedina from the 
true Ph. borbonica, on account of its being somewhat lighter- 
coloured, having a longer wing and tarsus, and also on account of its 
almost uniform white under tail-coverts. Professor Schlegel (J. ec.) 
indorses Dr. Hartlaub’s opinions to some extent, but observes that 
the difference of size mentioned by the worthy doctor was only acci- 
dental, but that the coloration of the Madagascar birds was some- 
what lighter, and especially with regard to the whiter under tail- 
coverts. 
Mr. Crossley brought two specimens, both differing in extent of 
colour from a Mauritius specimen given me by Professor Newton. 
The Madagascar birds are certainly lighter in colour; but, as regards 
size, they are, if anything, smaller than the one from the Mauritius. I 
notice one difference, however, in the tail-coverts which seems to have 
escaped the attention of both Dr. Hartlaub and Professor Schlegel ; 
this is that, in addition to the much whiter colour of the under tail- 
