226 CREEPER. 



numerous dusky bands ; chin and throat dusky black ; quills and 

 tail brown; legs brown. 



Inhabits Africa. — Mr. Bullock. — This seems either to be in 

 imperfect feather, or is the female of some species already described. 



15.— SPLENDID CREEPER. 



Certhia Tacazza, Splendid Creeper, Salt Abys. App. p. lviii. 



SIZE of the Violet-headed Creeper. Bill black, curved, and 

 one inch and half long to the gape; from the forehead to the end of 

 the tail six inches ; added to which, in the male, are two elongated 

 middle feathers, extending beyond the rest two inches ; the head, 

 neck, and breast, wing coverts, back, rump, and upper tail coverts, 

 most brilliantly glossy, like polished metal ; the head and neck have 

 a green gold gloss, the rest with a most resplendent coppery tinge ; 

 the greater coverts, and the rest of the wing, belly, and vent, deep 

 blue black, somewhat glossy ; tail feathers much the same, but with 

 more gloss, and rounded at the end ; the two elongated ones broad 

 at the base, and tending to a bluntish point at the end ; legs black. 



Two specimens were among the birds of Mr. Salt, who brought 

 them from Abyssinia ; found in the low, hot country, near the 

 Tacasse. 



