on ihe Black-cheeked Lovebird.



207



head and neck, brighter on the [upper] tail-coverts; front half of

the crown and forehead sienna-brown ; sides of the face, includ¬

ing the ear-coverts and throat, black; quills dusky, washed with

bluish green on the outer webs ; tail dark green, all but the

middle pair of feathers with a red stripe along the shaft and a

subterminal dusky spot; under surface green, slightly lighter

than the back and with a patch of salmon-red on the lower throat.

Bill rosy-red, paler, almost white at the base; legs brown (in

skin). Length (in skin) 6.25 inches, wings 3.6, tail 1.6, culmeu

.62, tarsus .50.


The female has the front of the head dusky rather than

sienna-brown, and this colour does not extend as far back as in

the case of the original specimen.


Hab. Muguazi River, North-west Rhodesia.


The arrival in this country of not less than five living

examples of Nigrigenis, some of them adults, alters the aspect of

affairs : we can now see (1) That both of the specimens described

above were immature ; (2) That, as was to be expected, the sexes

are probably alike or very nearly so.


As regards the sexes, it is not impossible that all five of

the new arrivals should be males ; I certainly thought that I

detected one female, but I may have been mistaken. But, even

so, it is exceedingly unlikely that any sexual difference in this

class of Agapornis would be indicated in the manner suggested

above.


Even now, I feel that we must proceed warily, in some

respects tentatively. A further examination of my two adults—

I am more than ever satisfied that they are a pair—whilst reveal¬

ing points of difference between the two birds, tells me also that

the male is older than the female, and that both are changing tail

feathers or replacing lost ones. Which of the differences are to

be attributed to age, and which, if any, to sex? I have also an

immature male shewing a third stage in the plumage. How are

we to fit in these three stages with the two described by Mr.

W. L. Sclater ? what is the sequence ?


I can only suggest as follows :—(1) The young bird, re¬

presented by Mr. Sclater’s “ female ” ; (2) An older but immature

bird, represented by the original specimen, which the discoverer



