LAMPROTORNIS BURCHELLII. 
oval, the upper margins prominent. Wings very large, rounded, and when 
folded reach nearly to the commencement of the last half of the tail, the 
third, fourth, and fifth quill-feathers equal and longest, the sixth slightly 
shorter, the second and seventh equal and about an inch shorter than the 
longest ones, the first not quite half the length of the second ; the points 
of the inner vanes of the three longest feathers obliquely truncated. Tail 
long, full, and strongly graduated, the two middle feathers longest and 
slightly narrower than the lateral ones ; the external one of each side about 
half the length of the two middle ones, the intermediate ones successively 
graduated between the two extremes. Tarsi strong, anteriorly distinctly 
scutellated, posteriorly entire ; toes strong, particularly the hinder one, the 
lateral ones nearly of equal length and shorter than the hinder one, the 
middle one the longest ; claws blunt and slightly curved, those of the hinder 
toes large and robust. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. 
Lines. 
Inches. 
Lines. 
Length from the point of the bill 
to 
Length of the tarsus 
i 
the tip of the tail 
... 13 
G 
of the outer toe 
0 
n 
of the bill from the gape . . . 
1 
n 
of the inner toe 
0 
of the tail 
6 
9 
of the middle toe 
0 
nj 
of the wings when folded . 
... 7 
6 
of the hinder toe 
0 
Si 
In the female the tail is rather shorter, in proportion, than in the male ; and 
the metallic gloss of the plumage, generally, not so brilliant. 
We were aware of the existence of this bird for several weeks before we knew to what 
group it belonged, or even could venture a surmise as to its relations. The great size of its 
wings, and the peculiar appearance it had in consequence when flying, baffled all our conjectures, 
and the extreme caution and shyness it observed for a long time ensured it safety, even in the 
midst of our guns. It was rarely seen to leave high trees, except to remove from one to 
another, so that, till specimens were actually secured, we never for an instant fancied it to be a 
Lamprotornis. It appeared to seek its food, which consisted of insects and fruits, almost 
exclusively upon trees; on the other hand, the more common species of South Africa obtain 
much of theirs on the ground. 
If it be essential, in order to carry out the plan of the Creator, that certain birds should be 
provided with longer and more weighty tails than others of their congeners, it will also be 
necessary that provision should be made to ensure them against injury or inconvenience from 
such arrangement. We have indicated a provision in the instance under consideration in the 
great development of the wing feathers, which can be necessary only to meet the increased 
obstacles to the bird’s progressive motion through the air, created by the length and weight of 
the tail. In almost' every bird in which the last-named organ is of great size, we find the 
wings also much larger than in species with the same size of body and with short tails. 
Another species of this genus, from North Africa, Lamprotornis longicauda, furnishes evidence of 
the fact, and several of the Vidua of South Africa might also be instanced, as well as nume- 
rous other birds of different countries. 
The first specimens we observed were in lat. 25° South, and from thence the numbers gra- 
dually increased as we advanced to the northward. 
