143 
GOLDEN-EARED GRAKLE. 
Lamprotornis chrysonolis, Swains. 
PLATE VI. 
Above, glossy green; beneath, purple; middle of the belly 
and spot on the ear, golden ; lesser quills and tail with a 
broad velvet-like black band. 
No description or delineation can give an adequate 
idea of the splendid metallic richness of the varied 
plumage of this magnificent and very rare species, 
which moreover appears to be entirely new to 
science. Two specimens came over from Western 
Africa, the first of which was secured for the use of 
this work. Our figure will in some degree assist us 
in the following description. 
The size is as nearly as possible equal to that of 
Lamprotornis plilonorynchus, but as the tail, which 
extends three inches beyond the wings, is much 
longer, the bird appears larger: the bill is rather 
smaller, and the frontal feathers are not more 
advanced than in the generality of the other species. 
The ground colour of the upper parts, from the 
front to the tail-covers, including the wings, is rich 
metallic yellowish-green, similar to L. ptilonoryn- 
chus ; hut on the lower part of the back, and on the 
