1872.] MR. R. B. SHARPE ON BIRDS FROM MADAGASCAR. 867 



The collection contains an adult pair and one immature bird of 

 this species. The young one is somewhat llobin-like in plumage, 

 though generally resembling the old hen bird. It has, however, the 

 upper plumage mottled with rusty, while the under surface is 

 mottled with dull fulvous, the centre of the abdomen being yellowish 

 white, and the thighs entirely white. The gape has the usual 

 yellow flesh peculiar to young birds. 



Family Muscicapid^e. 



Terpsiphone mutata. 



Terpsiphone mutata (L.), Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 389. 



One specimen shot in March 1872. This bird is in very in- 

 teresting plumage — as it is gaining the full black back, but still 

 retains traces of its former rufous dress. It is difficult, however, 

 even with a long series before us, to understand these different 

 changes ; but it seems pretty clear that, after gaining its rufous 

 plumage and white-marked wing, it moults into its black-and-white 

 dress, which becomes perfected by the assumption of white all over 

 the back and on the tail. 



Family Laniid^e. 



Xenopirostris polleni. 



Vanga polleni, Schl. Faun. Madag. Ois. p. 174 ; Gray, Hand-1. 

 of B. i. p. 396. 



" Kinkimauro, February 1872." 



This seems to be an excellent species, distinguished by the glossy 

 blue-black of the throat, which also occupies the entire fore part of 

 the neck, extending to the chest. 



Family Paradisiid;E. 

 Philepitta castanea. 



Philepitta castanea (Mull.), Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 397, et 

 Cat. Afr. B. p. 54. 



The three specimens now sent by Mr. Crossley represent the old 

 male and female of this species, and a young male assuming the 

 black plumage. This appears to be gained by a direct moult, the 

 black feathers, however, retaining a yellow tip, which gradually 

 wears off before the fully black livery is perfected. 



Family Caprimulgid^e. 



Caprimulgus enarratus. 



Caprimulffus enarratus, Gray, Ann. N. H. (4) viii. p. 428 (1871). 



The single specimen sent in the present collection differs from the 

 typical one in the British Museum in being everywhere much duller 

 in colour. The collar round the head is buff instead of white ; and 

 the tail is deep ferruginous scantily vermiculated and irregularly 

 crossed with narrow black bars. The bird, however, is moulting"; 



