THRUSH. 55 



elongated, but the feathers are nearly of equal lengths, the outer one 

 being only half an inch shorter than the two middle ; and though 

 the bird is equally glossy, yet the ground colour being black, gives 

 it a different appearance ; it wants, too, the white streak on the wing ; 

 both upper and under tail coverts and lower belly are dull green. 



Supposed to inhabit Africa. — Two were in the cabinet of M. 

 Rave de Breukelerwaert, who £ave one to M. Levaillant. 



38.— BRILLIANT THRUSH. 



Le Couiguiop, Levari. Afr. ii. 163. pi. 90. 



THIS is one of the most brilliant of birds, not greatly differing 

 from the Nabouroup or orange-eyed, but is smaller, and has a shorter 

 tail ; and the wings longer in proportion, as they reach almost to 

 the end of it ; but in the other, they occupy only three-fourths of the 

 length ; the feathers of the head, neck, and under parts of the body, 

 are shorter than those of the Gilded Thrush. The Couigniop has the 

 head, neck, and under parts of a fine blue, bronzed with steel, 

 changeable more or less to violet ; in other parts green, or yellow- 

 green with a gilded lustre ; the rump, and upper tail coverts are 

 rounded at the ends, and appear like the scales of a fish, varying 

 into blue and violet ; tail even at the end, of a very brilliant violet 

 purple ; bill and legs black ; irides orange-yellow. 



This is found in vast flocks in the lower part of the great Na- 

 maqua Country, within the Cape of Good Hope, which it inhabits 

 only during its migration. Called by the natives Couigniop, from 

 the clucking noise it makes ; is never seen in the lesser Namaquas. 

 It is probably also found in Senegal. 



The female is smaller, and the colours less lively. 



