CORACIAS WEIGALLI. 
WEIGALL’S EOLLEE. 
Coracias spatulata (nec Trimen), Tristram, Ibis, 1888, p. 266. 
Coracias weigalli, Dresser, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) vi. p. 351 (1890). 
Coracias spatulatus (partim), Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mns. xvii. p. 22 (1892). 
Figura nulla. 
Hab. Newala, East Afriea. 
Ad. pileo et nncha eum dorso antico sordide olivaceis: fronte, mento et superciliis albis : dorso postico, sca- 
pularibns et secnndariis intimis dilute cinnamomeis: alis et eauda sieut in C. spatulato eoloratis : capitis 
lateribns, gnla et pectore toto pallide fasco-cervinis, conspicue albo striatis et indistincte vinaceo tinctis : abdomine 
imo, subcaudalibns et snbalaribns pallide turcino-cseruleis : rectricibns extimis valde elongatis et spatulatis. 
Adult (Newala, S. Africa).—Forehead, chin, and a board line above and behind the eye white; 
crown, nape, and fore part of the back dull greenish ; rest of the back, scapulars, innermost second¬ 
aries, and median wing-coverts rich pale cinnamon ; quills turquoise-blue at the base, otherwise rich 
ultramarine-blue on the outer webs and black on the inner webs; wing-coverts, except the broad 
median cinnamon band, ultramarine-blue ; rump and upper tail-coverts ultramarine-blue; central tail- 
feathers black, washed with blue at the base, the rest broadly and diagonally terminated with black 
and blue, the outermost rectrix on each side much elongated and spatulated; sides of the head, entire 
throat, and breast pale brownish buff, with conspicuous white shaft-stripes, and faintly washed with 
pinkish ; lower abdomen, under tail-coverts, and under wing-coverts pale turquoise-blue. Total length 
about 13 inches, culmen 1*25, wing 6*3, tail 8’3, tarsus 0-78, outer rectrices extending 3-5 inches 
beyond the central ones. 
This Roller is as yet only known from Newala in East Africa, a station between the coast and Lake 
Nyassa, lat. 11° S., fifteen miles north of the Rovuma river, whence the type, the only specimen which 
has, as yet, been obtained, was sent with a small collection of skins by the Rev. Spencer Weigall, B.A., 
to Canon Tristram, who has kindly permitted me to describe and figure it. 
Dr. Sharpe {1. c.) doubts the specific distinctness of the present bird, and considers it to be an 
immature individual of C. spatulatus ; but this I cannot in any w^ay admit, for it exhibits no sign of 
immaturity in plumage, but, on the other hand, appears to be not only an adult but an old bird. 
D 
