4 PICARLE 
2. Colius castanonotus. Benguela and Angola. 
Colius castanonotus J. & E. Verreaux, Rev. Zool. p. 351 (1855); Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 
Lond. 1876, p. 413, pl. 35; Monteiro, The Ibis, 1862, p. 333; Sharpe, Cat. Birds 
Brit. Mus. Vol. 17, p. 342 (1892); Reichenow, Vog. Afr. Vol. 2, p. 206 (1902). 
This is a close ally of C. capensis, but at once distinguishable by its larger size and the 
uniform bright chestnut of the lower back. One of the types, received from the. Maison Ver- 
reaux, is in the British Museum, and there is a fine series in the Tring Collection from Ben- 
guela and Angola, collected by Mocquerys, Ansorge and Pemberton. 
I am quite doubtful about the occurence of this species in Gaboon. The localities of the 
« Maison Verreaux » are notoriously unreliable. 
Two living examples of the Chestnut-backed Coly were brought alive to England in 1876 
and presented to the Zoological Society of London by Mr. H. C. Fait. Their characteristic 
attitudes in life are well shown by Mr. Keulemans’s figures in the Society’s Proceedings. 
3. Colius erythromelon. Wels of Semin AWeien 
Colius indicus Latham, Ind. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 375 (1790). south of the Zambesi, 
Colius erythromelon Vieillot, Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat. Vol. 7, p. 378 (1817) ; Sharpe, extending on the West 
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. Vol..17, p. 344 (1892); W. L. Sclater, Birds S. Afr. up to Angola and on the 
Vol. 3, p. 99 (1903). East northwards to Nya- 
Colius lacteifrons Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. Vol. 17, p. 345 (1892). saland. 
Colius erythromelon lacteifrons W.L. Sclater, Birds S. Afr. Vol. 3, p. 100 (1903). 
Colius indicus, Colius lacteifrons, Colius pallidus, Colius angolensis and Colius mossam- 
bicus Reichenow, Vég. Afr. Vol. 2, pp. 208, 209 (1902). 
This is a wide ranging species and has been divided into as many as five subspecies. 
But I cannot satisfy myself that the slight characters upon which these subspecies are founded 
are constant to the different localities assigned to them. 
The specific term « ervythromelon » is probably a misprint for « erythromelas », but has 
attained such a wide usage now-a-days, that it is, perhaps, better not to disturb it. 
4. Colius macrurus. (Plate, Fig. 3 & 5.) North as heat icaletron| 
Lanius macrourus Linneeus, Syst. Nat. Vol. 1, p. 134 (1766). Abyssiniaand the Sudan 
Colius senegalensis Gmelin, Syst. Nat. Vol. 1, p. 842 (1788). south to British East 
Colius macrourus Shelley, Ibis. 1885, p. 308; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. Africa and Uganda, and 
Vol. 17, p. 345 (1892); Reichenow, Voge. Afr. Vol. 2, p.233 (1902); Erlanger, westwards through Cen- 
Journ. f. Orn. 1905, p. 486. tral Africa to Senegal. 
Colius macrurus pulcher Neumann, Journ. f. Orn. 1900, p. 190. 
Colius macrurus senegalensis Neumann, ibidem. 
The bright blue patch on the nape renders this species easily distinguishable. I have 
seen several specimens from Senegal, but have not found in them any recognizable points of 
difference from the eastern bird. 
5. Colius striatus. Cape Colony,Natal, Trans- 
Colius striatus Gmelin, Syst. Nat. Vol. 1, p. 843 (1788); Shelley, The Ibis, 1885, vaal and north to the 
p- 311; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. Vol. 17, p. 339 (1902); W. L. Sclater, Zambesi. 
Birds S. Afr. Vol. 3, p. 95 (1903); Reichenow, V6g. Afr. Vol. 3, p. 202 (1902). 
Colius intermedius Shelley, Ibis, p. 311 (1885). 
Colius minor Shelley, loc. cit. 
Colius striatus minor Reichenow, Vég. Afr. Vol. 2, p. 203 (1902). 
We now come to the second division of the genus, in which the plumage is more or less 
cross-banded with narrow striations. This form extends all over the area of the genus and 
