i f JG 



black; under tail-coverts more or less tipped with violet-bronze; bill and legs black; irides dark 

 brown. Total length 5"6 inches, culmen 1'2, wing 2 - 75, tail 19, tarsus - 7. 



Adult Female. Upper parts brown ; feathers of the forehead and crown with dark centres ; wings dark 

 brown, with pale brown edges to the feathers ; tail black, a few of the outer feathers with narrow white 

 terminal margins ; sides of the head brown, with a white eyebrow ; underparts buff, the feathers of the 

 throat, chest, and flanks with large triangular dusky black centres ; chin and central portion of upper 

 throat entirely buff; under wing-coverts and inner edges of the quills white, the former tinted with 

 yellow; bill and legs black; irides dark brown. Total length 5-5 inches, culmen 1*1, wing 2'6, tail 1*9, 

 tarsus - 7. 



Immature Male. Similar to adult female, but with the eyebrow barely perceptible, and the chin and central 

 portions of the upper throat dusky black. 



Hab. Madagascar. 



This fine species, which is confined to the island of Madagascar, is in form and size most nearly 

 allied to C. superbus. The following characters distinguish it from all the other members of this 

 family — viz. the upper parts rich metallic green, entire breast black, with no pectoral tufts. 



Though not so common as C. souimanga, it appears to be generally distributed, at least along 

 the east coast of Madagascar ; but according to Mr. E. Newton (Ibis, 1863, p. 342), "at Fenerive 

 only it appears tolerably common." In a previous visit to that island he and Mr. Roch first 

 observed it at Manubonitra on the 7th of October. " Its chirp," they write, " is exactly like a 

 Tree-Sparrow's, and when first heard it was taken for a bird of that genus ; its song is moderate." 

 They give its native name as " Schonwee," while according to Dr. Meller (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 162) 

 it is also called " Sushne," and by the older French writers it was called " Angala-dian." 



It has been recorded by Quoy and Gaimard from the small island of S te Marie, by Schlegel 

 from Nossi-be. Mr. Crossley has sent several skins from Saralalau, where it was apparently 

 plentiful. 



So little has been noted respecting this species, that we know next to nothing concerning its 

 habits ; yet so closely allied are all the members of this family that we may fairly conclude that, 

 like the species with which we are better acquainted, it constructs a pendent purse-shaped nest, 

 although Mr. Adanson many years ago described is as in the form of a cup (cf. Less. Man. d'Orn. 

 ii. p. 25). 



