BIRDS OF TENASSERIM, 197 



The size of this patch varies in different specimens. In the 

 finest it is about 0*4 long-, and 0-2 broad in front to 0'3 behind. 

 A small white moustachial stripe at the base of the lower man- 

 dible; lores just in front of the eyes blackish ; rest of top, back 

 and sides of the head, black ; scapulars, wing-coverts, rump 

 and upper tail-coverts, dull leaden blue. Sometimes there is a 

 very narrow black frontal band, and the whole lores are then black ; 

 sometimes again the ear-coverts and cheeks are blackish ; but 

 more commonly all these parts are as above described. Quills 

 and tail dark hair brown, margined except towards the tips of the 

 earlier primaries, with the color of the back ; the central tail 

 feathers and the visible portions of the tertiaries being almost 

 overlaid with this color; point of the chin white; wing-lining and 

 the immensely developed axillary tufts, satin white ; lower tail- 

 coverts yellowish white ; rest of lower parts very bright yellow 

 paling- towards the vent, a little lined with grey on°the flanks, 

 and with a scarlet flame-colored patch at the base of the neck 

 in front, in the middle of the upper breast ; a narrow dark line 

 divides the white moustachial stripe from the yellow of the 

 throat. 



In somewhat younger males the throat patch is paler ; a little 

 olive green is mingled with the blue of the mantle, and the 

 primaries and secondaries are margined with greenish olive 

 yellow. 



A younger male still has the whole upper surface dark olive 

 green, yellower on rump, upper tail-coverts and margins of 

 quills and tail. Three or four blue feathers on the head," where 

 the flame-colored patch is only about 0*15 in diameter ; lower 

 surface, a dark sordid olive green, mixed with grey, and one 

 or two yellow feathers on the throat. 



Quite young- males and females are nearly uniform dull olive 

 green above, a little brighter on the rump, upper tail-coverts 

 edges of wing and tail. The whole lower surface a nearly uniform 

 greyish olive green, a little greener only on the breast, and a 

 shade yellower on the abdomen ; no trace of yellow or blue or of 

 crown or breast patches. 



In this stage the bird is very like the young and female of 

 thoracicus. The bill of this latter is generally broader aud more 

 massive, but this distinction is not to be absolutely relied on as 

 the size of the bill varies in both species, aud a large bill in 

 percussus is not always to be distinguished from a small bill in 

 thoracicus. In this latter, however, the wing is longer, and there 

 is always, alike on rump, upper and lower tail-coverts, and edges 

 of quills, a brighter yellow tinge than in any specimen of 

 percussus. 



The adult female of percussus has yet to be described. 



