4 
Coracias habessinica (Gmel.), Hemp. & Ehrenb. Symb. Pbys., Aves, fob 3 (1829) ; Heugl. Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 174 
(1869); Dresser & Blanford, Ibis^ 1874^ p. 337. 
Coraciura abyssinica (Gmel.), Bp. Conspect. Volucr. Anisodact. p. 7 (1854). 
Coracias loquax, Licbt. Nomencl. Av. p. 68 (1854). 
Coracias abyssina (Gmel.), Scblegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Coraces, p. 134 (1867). 
Coracias {Coraciura) abyssinia, Gray, Hand-1, of B. i. p. 76 (1869). 
Figuroe notahiles. 
Edwards, Gleanings, iii. pi. 27; D'’Aubenton, PI. Enl. 326, 626; Eeicbenb. Merop. Taf. 431. fig. 3181 j Levaillant, 
Hist. Nat. Boll. & Geais, pi. 25. 
Hab. North-eastern and Western Africa from about 20° N. lat. down probably nearly to the Equator. 
ad. fronte, mento et stri^ superciliari albidis: pileo, nucha, capitis lateribus et corpore subtus viridi-cseruleis, 
pileo saturatiore et corpore subtus pallidiore : gula argenteo-cyaneo longitudinaliter striata: dorso cum 
scapularibus dilute cinnamomeis : tectricibus alarum minoribus, uropygio et supracaudalibus ultramarinis : 
tectricibus majoribus viridi-cseruleis : remigibus ad basin pallide viridi-cseruleis, versus apicem saturate 
ultramarinis, ad apicem et in pogonio interno nigro marginatis: rectricibus centralibus nigris, ultramarino 
tinctis, reliquis ad basin saturate cseruleo, et versus apicem pallide cseruleis, duabus extimis valde elongatis, 
attenuatis et nigro terminatis : rostro nigro : pedibus sordide viridibus : iride fusc4. 
Adult male (Bogos, Abyssinia).—Forehead, chin, and a line extending over the eye greyish white; 
crown, nape, sides of the head, throat, and underparts generally greenish turquoise-blue, duller and 
darker on the crown and nape, brighter on the throat and rather paler on the abdomen; throat with 
streaks of silvery blue; back and scapulars reddish cinnamon; rump and upper tail-coverts rich 
ultramarine-blue; least wing-coverts ultramarine-blue, the rest greenish blue; quills pale turquoise- 
blue on the basal portion, and on the terminal portion deep ultramarine-blue, with the inner webs 
broadly margined with black and tipped with black ; central rectrices black, tinged with ultramarine, 
the rest dark blue at the base and pale blue on the terminal portion, with black shafts, the two 
external ones much elongated and attenuated, and black from where they attenuate to the tip: bill 
black; feet dull greenish yellow; iris brown. Total length about 17 inches, culmen 1'45, wing 6*8, 
tail 12*5, the outer rectrices extending 6 inches beyond the rest, tarsus 1. 
Adult female (Kordofan).—Closely resembles the male, but has the external rectrices rather 
shorter. 
Young, —Eesembles the adult, but is duller in colour and the outer rectrices are not elongated. 
The Abyssinian Eoller inhabits North Africa from about 20° N. lat. down to the equator, and 
is also found in Southern Arabia, where it was observed and recorded by Hemprich and 
Ehrenberg. When in Berlin I examined the collection formed by these gentlemen and observed 
that one specimen is marked as having been obtained in Egypt; but von Heuglin records it as not 
occurring north of 20° N. lat., below which it is common and resident. Along the coast of the Eed 
Sea between Suakim and Massowah, he remarks, it descends to nearly the sea-level; whereas in 
