236 



cassell's book of birds. 



these birds living 2,000 feet above the sea, but gives us no information as to their nests, or habits 

 during the breeding season. 



The GLOSSY MAGPIES {Lamprotomithes) constitute a small group belonging to the family of 

 the Starlings. They somewhat resemble the Jay in their form and habits, and are of larger size than the 

 species we have been describing. They are, moreover, remarkable for the great development of their 

 tails ; the beak is small and delicate ; the upper mandible is arched, and curves slightly outwards at its 

 edges ; the wings are long, and the tail so sharply graduated, that the exterior feathers are only a third 

 of the length of those in its centre ; the tarsi are high, the toes long, and armed with strong claws. 



K/V 



... 



THE SCALY GLOSSY starling {Pholidiwges leucogaster). 



THE BRAZEN GLOSSY MAGPIE. 



The Brazen Glossy Magpie (Lamprotomis denea) is from eighteen to twenty inches long, ten or 

 thirteen inches of this measurement belonging to the tail ; the wing is from six and a half to seven and 

 a half inches long. The predominating shade upon the plumage is a beautiful ever-changing blueish 

 green ; the back and lower parts of the body are brown, and the head enlivened by the copper-like 

 brilliancy we have already alluded to as pervading this group. The feathers upon the wing-covers are 

 spotted with black at their tips ; the tail is purplish blue, marked with irregular dark spots, and gleams 

 with metallic lustre. The eye is light yellow, and the back and fee-t black. These splendid birds 

 inhabit AVestem and Southern Africa, and are replaced by a very similar race in the more northern 

 portions of the continent. Le Vaillant, whom we have to thank for the discovery of this species, tells 



