66 



PALAEORNIS WARDI E. NEWTON. 



(Plate 20.) 



Palaeomis wardi E. Newton, P.Z.S. 1867, p. 346 (Seychelles). 



THE translation of Sir Edward Newton's diagnosis is as follows : 

 " Similar to P. alexandri, but with a stouter bill, purple red 

 shoulder patches, and the hind neck without a red band. 

 11 Adult Male. Crown of head and throat bluish, cheeks ochraceous green, 

 chin and line round base of mandible black, continued in a stripe from the 

 gape to the hind neck ; back and wings grass green ; rump brighter ; a single 

 wide band (or patch) On the shoulders purplish red; remiges and rectrices 

 deep green washed with blue, the latter yellowish, the former dusky below; 

 belly yellowish green ; bill vivid scarlet with paler tip ; feet dusky. Total 

 length 16 inches, wings 775, tail 9." 



Female similar to the male but duller, and with the bill all black, and 

 without the black mandibular stripe. 



Formerly abundant on most of the islands in the Seychelles, especially 

 Mahe, but now confined to the little islet of Silhouette, where it will in all 

 probability become extinct. According to E. Newton its name was " Cateau 

 vert." 



Habitat : Seychelles Islands. 



