2^ 



P. Z. S. 1873, p. 713; Buckley, Ibis, 1874, p. 374; Shelley, Ibis, 1875, p. 70; Bocage, 

 Join. Lisb. 1876, p. 6. no. 23. 



J ad. saturate velutino-brunneus, alis caudaque cuprescentibus : capite antico metallice viridi : tectricibus 

 alarum minimis metallice ametbystinis : gula metallice aurato- viridi, striga malari lata cyaneo-viridi : 

 jugulo et pectore superiore lsetissime scarlatinis, plumis subterminaliter cbalybeo fasciatis : rostro et 

 pedibus nigris : iride saturate brunnea. 



? ad. supra brunnea, alis saturatius brunneis, pallidius marginatis : tectricibus alarum majoribus externis et 

 tectricibus primariorum albo auguste limbatis : rectricibus saturate brunneis, anguste albido terminatis : 

 subtus fulvida, abdomine et subcaudalibus vix flavo lavatis ; gutture et pectore superiore bruuneo mar- 

 moratis : striga mystacali fulvida. 



Hab. in Africa australi et orientali. 



Adult Male. General plumage very dark velvety brown ; sides of the head and neck almost black ; wings 

 and tail rather paler and strongly shaded with copper ; forehead and crown metallic emerald-green ; the 

 least wing-coverts bright metallic lilac ; underparts almost black ; chin and upper throat metallic 

 golden green, margined on each side by a short moustachial streak of metallic emerald-green, with a 

 few of the feathers steel-blue ; remainder of the throat and chest rich bright scarlet, each feather with 

 a subterminal steel-blue band ; under wing-coverts almost black ; under surface of the quills bronzy 

 brown; bill and legs black; irides dark brown. Total length 5*5 inches, culrnen 1*1, wing 3'0, tail 2*2, 

 tarsus - 7. 



Adult Female. Upper parts and sides of the head brown ; wings dark brown with paler brown edges to the 

 feathers ; outer greater coverts and primary coverts edged with white ; tail dark brown, all the feathers 

 with narrow white ends ; underparts buff, shaded with yellow on the abdomen and under tail-coverts, 

 strongly mottled with dark brown on the throat, chest, and sides of the breast; an almost pure buff 

 band drawn from the lores clown each side of the throat ; undersurface of the wings brown, the quills 

 with hardly perceptible paler margins to their inner webs, the coverts mottled with buff; bill and legs 

 black; irides dark brown. Total length 5 inches, culmen 1, wing 2'75, tail 2, tarsus 0"7. 



Obs. Immature males resemble the old females in plumage, aud their adult dress commences on the throat. 

 The female of this species differs from that of C. amethystinus in having the chin and upper throat paler 

 and more mottled, in the primary coverts being edged with white, in the browner and less olive shade 

 of the back, and in having the inner margin of the quills darker. 



Hab. Throughout South and East Africa, with the exception of Cape colony. 



This fine species, whose plumage has the soft appearance of velvet, is a native of both South and 

 East Africa, but is not found in Cape colony. It ranges northward on the west side of the 

 continent as far as Loanda, where it has been procured by Dr. Welwitsch ; and on the east into 

 the Zanzibar district, being apparently not uncommon at Mombas, from whence it has been sent 

 by Mr. Wakefield. On the west coast it is replaced by C. senegalensis, and in North-east Africa 

 by C. acik and C. cruentatus. 



In Angola it appears to be rare, but is evidently more abundant to the southward, having 

 been met with by Mr. Monteiro at Kattenbella, and is recorded by Professor Barboza du Bocage 



