12 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIII. 



round to the back of the nape forming an indistinct collar, 

 which shades off into the other parts. Scapulars and sometimes 

 the feathers of the inter-scapulary region the same as the rest of 

 the back biit darker and changing into ochreous-buff, or buff, at 

 the ends which are margined with brown at the tips. Inner lesser 

 coverts like the back gradually changing to buff, or ochreoiis, on 

 the other lesser, median and inner greater coverts which are 

 margined with brown ; greater secondary coverts and inner secon- 

 daries buff, or ochreous-buff, the latter shaded with olive on the 

 inner web and inside of the outer web. Edge of shoulder of wing, 

 bastard wing, primary coverts and primaries dark brown, the five 

 inner primaries with broad oblique bands of white at the end ; 

 outer secondaries brown. 



The yellow ochre of the throat and fore-neck changes 

 into vinous buff on the upper breast which is divided from 

 the lower breast by a narrow band of black, above which 

 is an indefinite and still more narrow band of white, caused by the 

 white of the black tipped feather showing throiigh ; lower breast 

 dull yellow-buff changing gradually into the chocolate of the rest of 

 the lower plumage and flanks, which itself becomes black in the 

 centre of the abdomen ; feathers of the tarsus and under tail-coverts 

 creamy buff; Central tail feathers like the back darkening towards 

 the narrow prolonged portions which are quite black at the ends, the 

 other rectrices are tipped with pale biiff and the outermost also 

 mottled with dark rufous next this pale tip. 



On the upper pkimage the colour shows most variations on the 

 wings where it runs from a bea^itiful pale vinous buff of cream dove 

 colour, to a bright chrome yellow. In the great majority of birds 

 the general tone is a vinaceous buff, with sandy yellow predominat- 

 ing on the softer feathers of the wing. 



The amount of black on the abdomen also differs greatly in 

 different individuals but African birds, on an average, seem darker 

 and more richly coloiired here than are Indian specimens. 



The yellow of the throat varies from pale, rather dull chrome 

 yellow, to a bright almost deep chrome. 



" In this species the males average rather larger and heavier and 

 have decidedly longer tails. The following is a resume of many 

 measiirements accorded in the flesh : — 



"JliaZes.— Length 11-75 to 13-75; expanse 21-13 to 22-5; wing 

 6-7 to 7-5 ; tail from vent 4-38 to 5-87 ; tarsus 0-9 to 1-0 ; bill from 

 gape -62 to -7 per cent. Weight 8 to nearly 10 ozs. " (Hume.) 



To the above I may add a few average measurements taken from 

 the mct(^e?/f)s/i;ms of over 100 specimens. Wing 7-15" (190 mm.); 

 bill at front, from tip to feathers on forehead -52" (13-6 mm.). 



Colours of soft farts. — "The feet and bill vary from pale slaty grey 

 to pale plumbeous, or lavender blue ; the irides are dark brown and 



