278 Riippell's Neue Witbelthiere. 



Three Lamprotorni, L. tenuirostris, L. rufiventris, L. chaly- 

 beus. Oriohts moloxitta, Buffon, Tab. 12, Fig. 1, which appears 

 hitherto to have been confounded by various authors, as identical with 

 some of the other black-headed species. Prionops cristalus, Riipp. 

 Tab. 12, Fig. 2, interesting as being a second species of the genus, 

 perhaps identical with Lanius cineraceus of Latham. Perdix me- 

 lanocephala, Riipp. Tab. 5, allied in the form, colouring, and distri- 

 bution of the markings to the little group, of which the red-legged 

 partridges, P. rubra, saxatilis, and their allies of southern Europe 

 and northern Africa are typical. A very beautiful bird, and appa- 

 rently rare, as only two specimens were procured. 



Perdix melanocephala, Riipp. — Vitta frontali supra pileum ad nucham usque 

 ducta, — infraorbitali, et collari ab regione parotidea, quae ex albido et nigro 

 striolata, per latera colli ad pectus plaga angustiori elongata, nigris ; vitta su- 

 perciliari lata et gula nivea ; collo et medio abdominis ex isabellino rufescente ; 

 corpore supra schistaceo, plumis margine rufescentibus, infra dilution ; hypo- 

 cbondriis fasciis albescentibus utrinque nigro marginatis ; cauda supra subtilissi- 

 me undulata ; rostro et pedibus colore coralline 



Perdix Erckellii, Riipp. Tab. 6, coming into the division which 

 contains the P. nudicollis of authors. 



P. Erehellii, Riipp — Pileo castaneo ; frontis et faciei plumulis rigidioiibus 

 nigris albo striolatis ; macula post oculari et gula albis ; plumis colli castaneis. 

 albo marginatis — pectoris griseis, stria intermedia lanceolata castanea — abdomi- 

 nis, crissi et bypocliondriorum albicantibus stria intermedia lanceolata et mar- 

 gine castaneis Dorsalibus et alarum tectricibus hepatitis, margine castaneis, 



tergo, uropygio, rectricibus et remigibus hepatitis, secundarium vexillis externis 

 colore dilutioriundulatis, rostrum et pedes colore corneo, pedes maris bicalcarati. 



A fine Otis, O. melanogaster, Riipp. Tab. 7> is figured ; the con- 

 clusion of the description is, however, deferred till next number : 

 melanogaster is not a very good appellative for any of the bustards, 

 as the summer or breeding plumage of nearly all is deep-black on 

 the lower parts. 



The part containing the Reptiles consists of figures and descrip- 

 tions of three tortoises. Pentonyx gehajie, Riipp. Tab. 1, somewhat 

 similar to the Test, subrufa of the Cape of Good Hope, but differs 

 from it by a character which also separates it from all the other torr- 

 toises known, viz. the .pectoral pair of plates are triangular, and do 

 not reach to the centre of the sternum. If many specimens had not 

 be en found, one would at first sight have been induced to have con- 

 sidered this structure as an accidental formation. The other true 

 chelones belong to the genus Chelonia, the species of which are so 

 difficult to determine, on account of the <jreat variation which take 



