242 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxii. 



BRACHYPTERACIAS LEPTOSOMUS (Lesson). 



Colaris leptosomns Lesson, Illustr. ZooL, 1832, pL xx. 



Brachypteraoias leptosomus Lafresnaye, Mag. de ZooL, 1834, Ois., pi. xxxi. 



One specimen, from the forest of East Imerina, February, 1876. 

 "Iris light yellow; feet grayish." This bird is immature, in which 

 stage the colors of the head, and lower surface are rather paler than in 

 adults. 



Family ALOEDIMD^. 



CORYTHORNIS CRISTATUS (Linnceus), 



Alcedo cristata LiNNiEUS, Syet. Nat., 12th ed., 1, 1766, p. 178. 

 Corythornis cristata Kaup, Fam. Alced., 1848, p. 13. 



Five specimens of this pretty little kingfisher are in the collection — 

 all from Imerina. "Iris dark brown; feet coral red." There seems to 

 be but little individual variation among the adults of this species. 



Family PHILEPITTID^. 



PHILEPITTA CASTANEA (Miiller). 



Turdus castaiieus Muller, Syst. Nat., Anhang., 1776, p. 143. 

 Pliilepitta castanea Gray, Hand-list Birds, 1, 1869, p. 297. 



Five immature specimens, from the forest of East Imerina. Two of 

 these, taken in February, are molting into the black and yellow plumage 

 of the adult. "Eye light brown." 



Dr. Richmond is apparently quite right in his view ' that the yellow 

 tilDS to the black feathers are not an evidence of immaturity, but simply 

 the usual accompaniment of the fresh molt, wearing off by abrasion 

 until the bird assumes a jet black appearance. 



The earliest name for the x^resent species is Turdus castaneus Muller, 

 which antedates Turdus jala Boddaert by five years; and there seems 

 to be no reason why it should not be adopted, as has already been done 

 by Dr. Eichmond.^ 



Family ALAUDID^. 



MIRAFRA HOVA Hartlaub. 



Miraffra liova Hartlaub, Journ. f. Orn., 1860, p. 106. 

 One specimen, from Imerina. 



' 1 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIX, 1897, p. 688. 

 2 Idem. 



