EINAR LÖNNBERG, BIRDS FROM BRIT. E. AFRICA. 3 



offer a new proof to those I have brouglit forward before^ 

 that there is no constant difference between Southern and 

 East African specimens of this species, and that thus the 

 subspecific name »arquatricula» cannot be used for the latter. 



The young bird has a very interesting plumage. The 

 forehead has no vinous tint, but is sh"ghtly suffused with 

 grey, not so much, however, as to abolish the difference in 

 colour between this anterior, and the posterior parietal re- 

 gion and the occiput. The latter parts are light grey with 

 almost inconspicuous brown edges to the feathers. This co- 

 lour continues all över the back of the neck, and the fea- 

 thers of these parts are rounded at the tip, not pointed as 

 in the adult, and entirely without the vinous pink of the 

 adult bird. The throat is whitish with narrow, light brown 

 edges to the feathers. Foreneck dark grey with rufescent 

 edges to all feathers. The breast is still darker, almost slaty 

 with mixed white and rufous posterior margins to the fea- 

 thers; on the sides and on the beily the latter colour of the 

 edges is more dominant. Belly and flanks dark lead-grey. 

 Back blackish anteriorly with a very slight purplish tint, 

 posteriorly and on the rump and tail-coverts with a slaty 

 blue gloss. Small scapulars edged with bright chestnut 

 rufous. Lesser wing-coverts slaty black with rufous and 

 pare white edges; usually the white occupies the middle 

 of the edge. The median and greater coverts dark lead- 

 grey with narrow, pure white tips. Quills black, secon- 

 daries more or less tinged with lead-grey on the outer web. 

 Tail black. The iris is stated on the label to have been 

 »drab» (the same is also said about the iris of the adult 

 female). »Bare skin round the eye yellow», bill and feet of the 

 same colour. 



It may be concluded per analogiam that the light mar- 

 gins to the feathers, the white as well as the rufous, are, of 

 course, juvenile markings. On the other hand, it is evident 

 that the white, more or less tringular spöts at the tips of 

 the feathers of the adult correspond to the light apical mar- 

 gins of the young bird. The colour-pattern of the adult is 

 thus in this case a direct specialisation of the juvenile pat- 

 tern. This must be regarded to be the case not oniy with 



1 Birds coU. by Swed. Zool. Exp. B. E. Afr. 1911, K. Vet. Akad. 

 Handl. Bd 47 n:o 5 p. 44. 



