AVES. 395 



habits than other species. I always saw it associating 

 with Vultures near carcases. It flies heavily, expanding 

 its tail much. Other Crows (C. affinis) pursue and tease 

 it, just as they do Lammergeyers, Eagles, and other birds 

 of prey. 



Fregiliis graculus I met with once on the Wadela 

 plateau, near Gaso, at an elevation of 10,500 feet, but I 

 did not secure a specimen. There was a small flock, not 

 very wary ; indeed I approached so near that I could 

 only account for my not killing a bird by my cartridges 

 being damp. They appeared to be searching for insects 

 on the ground. 



Family STUENID^. 



187. Lamprocolius chalybaeus (Hemp, and Ehr.). 



Lamprotornis chalybceus, Hemp, and Ehr., Sym. Phys. t. x. — Eiipp. 



Syst. Uebers. No. 242.— Heugl. Journ. f. Om. 1869, p. 5. 

 L. cyaniventris, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, 1855, p. 255. 

 L. chalybceus and L. abyssinicws, Hartlaub, Journ. f. Om. 1859j 

 p. 21. 



Iris golden yellow, sometimes orange or scarlet near 

 the pupil. 



This bird varies greatly in size, so much so that it 

 is not at aU surprising that two races should have 

 been distinguished. But despite the great differences 

 in the specimens obtained, amounting to 1-^ inches in the 

 length of the closed wing, I am unable to see any 

 constant distinction, there being numerous specimens of 

 intermediate size. The following series of measurements 

 will illustrate this : — 



