on the soft parts of the Blue-naped Coly.



95



I have not the remotest notion what “bluish yellow” can

mean, unless it means green. Heuglin says “ coerulescente-

flavidis” which is a trifle more vague.


In an article describing an Expedition to the White Nile

(. Ibis, 1901, p. 264) Mr. H. F. Witherby thus describes the soft

parts:—“Iris red; bill—upper mandible pinkish red with black

tips ; legs and feet purple ; orbits bare, lake-red.” In the same

volume Mr. A. E. Pease (p. 670) says: “ Iris brown, naked skin

round eye dark red ; bill red at base, black at the tip : legs dull

red.”


The following year (Ibis, 1902, p. 42S) Mr. R. Me. D.

Hawker says “ Iris hazel ; bill red, black at tip, legs and feet

purplish red.”


I11 1906 Mr. J. Jackson “On birds collected during a

journey to the Ruwenzori Range” (Ibis, p.522) thus describes

the soft parts :—“ Iris crimson ; bill coral, tip and lower mandible

black ; bare patch round eye plum-coloured ; feet heliotrope-

coloured.”


Combining these descriptions we learn that, in life, this

Coly has the bill with the upper mandible red, blackish horn at

base and tip, lower mandible black ( Heuglin) ; “upper mandible

pinkish-red with black tip, lower mandible black ( Witherby) ;

“red at base, black at tip” (Pease and Hawker ) ; “ coral, tip and

lower mandible black ” (Jackson); feet “rosy crimson with bluish

yellowish soles” (Heuglin')-, “purple” (Witherby)-, “dull red”

(Pease) ; “ purplish-red ” ( Hawku ') ; “ heliotrope ” (Jackson) ; iris

“ crimson ” (Heuglin) ; “ red ” ( Witherby’) ; “ brown ” (Pease) ;

“hazel” (Hazvker); “crimson” (Jackson)-, orbital naked patch

“crimson” (Heziglin); “lake red” (Witherby)-, “dark red”

(Pease); plum-coloured” (Jackson.)


With all this apparent inconstancy of colouring in the soft

parts it would be somewhat perplexing for a taxidermist to stuff

a specimen correctly, for exhibition in a Museum ; or for an

artist who had to prepare a coloured plate of the species. All

the above naturalists describe with authority, from birds before

them in the flesh; and though we may allow a little latitude for

varying conceptions of colour, it would be absuid to suppose

that the same bill could be described by one man as pinkish-red



