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were obtained by tbe Eev. J. Wills in the forest east of Imerina, Central Madagascar—that is, the 
forest furthest from the east coast, and hordering the high tableland or plateau of Imerina, which 
is the home of the Hovas. 
Eespecting the habits of this Eoller I find nothing on record, but Mr. Wills informs me that 
it is a forest-haunting species, and in its general habits resembles A. jpittoides, and like that species is 
usually met with on the ground. It is said to nest in holes in the ground. In a letter just received, 
Mr. Wills adds that his native collector did not appear to have clearly distinguished the present 
species and A. joittoides and said that the cry and hahits of the two species are alike. One native 
who brought him a specimen of A. crossleyi told him that, when obtained, the bird was flying amongst 
the trees, whereas A. pittoides rarely leaves the ground. The forest tribes, he adds, call the present 
species VdrontrdndraJca or Hedgehog-bird, probably from its hibernating habits, but he could not 
ascertain whether they apply the same name to A. pittoides. 
With regard to the statement that this species and A. pittoides hibernate, Mr. Wills writes 
to me as follows:—“During the winter months (May, June, July, and August) these two Eollers 
are not seen and the natives affirm that they remain then in their holes, but I can find no one who 
has actually seen them there. In the spring they reappear and are often seen until the winter again 
sets in. They may be seen fiying about at all hours of the day and not only, as I before told you, 
towards the evening.” This information is most interesting and reminds one of the now exploded, 
but once so prevalent idea that the Swallows did not migrate but hibernated ; and it will be most 
important to have the matter thoroughly investigated, which Mr. Wills is now engaged in doing, and 
I trust ere long to have further information from him on the subject. 
Eather more than a year ago the Eev. J, Wills gave me several Eollers he had collected in 
Madagascar, and amongst them were three which were stated to belong to the present species, two 
adult and one young hird. On carefully comparing them the two adults were found to he without 
doubt referable to Atelornis crossleyi, and the young bird also at the first glance appeared to belong 
to the same species, but all the new feathers appearing on the crown instead of being rufescent were 
rich cobalt-blue. I at once examined every specimen of Atelornis crossleyi I could find, and in every 
case they had the crown rufous-bay without any trace of blue, and the only inference at which I 
could arrive was that another undescribed species exists in Madagascar, which, when adult, has the 
crown rich cobalt-blue. On naming the matter to the Hon. Walter Eothschild, he told me that some 
time ago he purchased of a dealer an adult specimen of a Eoller said to be A. crossleyi, with which it 
in fact agreed except that it had the entire crown rich cobalt-blue. This specimen is, however, not 
forthcoming, and Mr. Eothschild informs me that he has lost it. My specimen, which was obtained 
by the Eev. J. Wills at Imerina, Central Madagascar, resembles A. crossleyi, but is much duller in 
tone of plumage, the rich bay colour being replaced by dull rufescent ochraceous, the black and 
white patch on the throat is wanting, but there are one or two new feathers which are nearly white, 
showing that it would probably be assumed with the adult dress; the upper parts are duller than in 
A. crossleyi and the crown is dull rufous-brown varied with cobalt-blue, the new feathers being of 
this latter colour : the bluish-white spot on the wing-coverts is apparent, though but slightly developed. 
Total length about 9 inches, culmen IT5, wing 3'55, tail 4‘6, tarsus 1*65. 
It is rather premature to describe a new species from a single immature specimen, but I think it 
advisable to propose the provisional name of Atelornis coeruleiceps should further research prove it to be 
a valid one, which I feel convinced will he the case. I wrote to Mr. Wills some time ago, asking 
him to make inquiries amongst the natives about this bird, and in a letter just to hand he replies as 
follows:—“ I cannot yet throw any light on the blue-headed crossleyi, but I am assured by the 
