866 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON BIRDS FROM MADAGASCAR. [Dec. 3, 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Contributions to the Ornithology of Madagascar. — 

 Part III. By R. Bowdler Sharpe, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



[Keceived October 14, 1872.] 

 (Plate LXXIII.) 



Mr. Crossley still continues his labours in this island* ; and the 

 small collection which forms the subject of the present essay has 

 been, as before, submitted to me by Mr. Cutter, of Great Russell 

 Street, while at the same time I must express my obligations to 

 Mr. C. Ward for allowing me to view and describe the collection in 

 its entirety. 



The present consignment comes from the country to the south- 

 east of Antananarivo, which has not been explored before for the 

 purposes of collecting ; but unfortunately the inhospitable and barren 

 nature of the country has seriously interfered with Mr. Crossley's 

 arrangements, and the last collection has not proved so productive 

 of novelties as his former ones. 



Family Timaliid.e. 



OxYLABES MADAGASCARIENSIS. (Plate LXXIII.) 



Oxylabes madayascariensis, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 386, et 

 Cat. Afr. B. p. 20. 



This species was procured at Voolaly ; and Mr. Crossley now sends 

 what I take to be the young bird. This is represented in plate 

 LXXIII. fig. 2. It differs from the adult (fig. 1) in having the 

 crown much paler and more dingy chestnut, the under surface of the 

 body olive-brown, inclining to yellowish along the centre of the 

 breast, while the throat is yellowish instead of white ; the upper 

 mandible is dark horn-brown, the lower one yellowish : the white 

 eye-mark is wanting. 



Mystacornis crossleyi. 



Mystacoinis crossleyi, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 18/0, p. 392, pi. xxix., 

 et Cat. Afr. B. p. 20. 



These birds were procured to the south of the capital, in February 

 ] 872. Mr. Crossley has sent over several examples, which show us 

 the gradual change of the young male from the plumage of the old 

 female, by the gradual assumption of the black throat, without a 

 moult. 



Family Turdid.e. 



Copsychus PICA. 



Copsychus pica, Pelz. ; Hartl. Faun. Madag. p. 38 (1862); Verr. 

 in Vins. Voy. Madag. Ann. B. p. 2 (1865) ; Schl. P. Z. S. 1866, 

 p. 422; Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag., Ois. p. 95, pi. 29 (1867); 

 Grand. Rev. Zool. 1867, p. 358. 



* See P. Z. S. 1870.. p. 384 ; 1871.. p. 313. 



