NEODREPANIS CORUSCANS. 



(WATTLED SUN-BIRD.) 



Neodrepanis coruscans, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 76 ; Shelley, Ibis, 1875, p. 380. 



<$ ad. supra chalybeus, tectricibus alarum nigricantibus, minimis dorso concoloribus, reliquis autem flavicante 

 late lavatis : remigibus eodem modo coloratis, secundariis intimis dorso concoloribus : Cauda mora, 

 rectricibus late chalybeo marginatis : regione ocular j nuda carunculis cseruleis ornata : subtus flavus, 

 plum arum basi celata nigra : rostro et pedibus nigris : iride brunnea. 



Hab. in insula " Madagascar " dicta. 



Adult Male. Upper parts steel-blue, with a few yellow feathers on the sides of the forehead; large bare 

 eye-wattles (covering almost the entire sides of the head) greyish blue; a narrow margin of black 

 feathers in front and on the lower edge of these wattles ; wings black, primaries narrowly edged with 

 yellow, secondaries and the greater and median coverts broadly edged with that colour ; the innermost 

 secondaries and wing-coverts, and all the least series of coverts, steel-blue, the latter shaded with green ; 

 tail black, the feathers broadly edged with steel-blue; underparts yellow, with the basal portions of the 

 feathers black, slightly showing through on the breast ; under wing-coverts yellow ; bill and legs black ; 

 irides dark brown. Total length 41 inches, culmen 1 - 15, wing 2 - 0, tail 1*0, tarsus 0-6. 



Obs. The type is similar to the adult male above described, excepting that the wattles on the sides of the 

 head are absent ; upper half of the head obve-yellow with a few steel-blue feathers ; the dark portion 

 of the wings dark brown instead of black. Total length 3"5 inches, culmen 1*1, wing l - 9, tail 1-0, 

 tarsus 0"55. 



Hab. Madagascar. 



This very peculiar and little-known Sun-bird is a native of Madagascar, whence Mr. Crossley 

 has sent home the only specimens known, which are figured here for the first time. The type 

 specimen, which is in the British Museum, appears to be an immature male; and from its plumage 

 being mottled on the upper portion of the head with dull olive-yellow plumes, and from most of 

 the quills being dark brown instead of black, and the wattles on the sides of the head almost 

 absent, we may conclude that the young bird differs very considerably from the fully plumaged 

 adult male. Now with all known Sun-birds the females are without metallic plumes, excepting 

 in a few species of the genus Anthodiceta, where the metallic feathers are likewise present in the 

 nestlings. For these reasons I conclude that the female of the Neodrepanis will be found not to 

 possess metallic colours, and that the type in the British Museum is a male in not quite full 

 plumage. Mr. Sharpe observes (P. Z. S. 1875, p. 76), when he describes the new genus Neodre- 

 panis, that it is " allied to Nectarinia and Cinnyris, but at once to be distinguished by its scimitar- 

 like bill and nearly obsolete first and sinuated second primary." Mr. Sharpe had at the time not 

 seen the adult male, as this arrived later on, and I was enabled to add (Ibis, 1875, p. 380) the 



