LEPTOSOMUS GRACILIS. 
COMOEAN CUCKOO-EOLLEE. 
Leptosomus discolor, Sclater, Ibis, 1864^ p. 299; Sbelley^ P. Z. S. 1879^ p. 675 (partim). 
Leptosomus gracilis, Milne-Edwards & Oustalet, Compt. Rend. Paris, ci. p. 218 (1885). 
Leptosomus discolor, var. gracilis, iid. Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool. 1887, art. no. 5, p. 219; iid. N. Arch. Mus. (2) x. p. 239 
(1888). 
Leptosoma gracile (M.-E. & Oust.), Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xvii. p. 3 (1892). 
Figura adhuc nulla. 
Hab. Grand Comoro Island. 
$ ad. L. discolori persimilis, sed minor. 
? ad. L. discolori similis, sed conspicue pallidior: cand& nec fusc&, sed pallide castanea versus apicem nigro-fusco 
transfasciata, facile distingnenda. 
Adult male (Grand Comoro).—Does not differ from the male of L. discolor except in size, being 
smaller. Total length about 15 inches, culmen 1*65, wing 9-5, tail 7’5, tarsus 1T5. 
Adult female (Grand Comoro).—Differs from the female of L. discolor in being smaller in size, paler 
in general coloration, and in having the tail pale chestnut or foxy red, with a somewhat indistinct 
subterminal blackish bar. Total length about 15 inches, culmen 1‘5, wing 8*9, tail 7*3, tarsus 1T5„ 
Young (Grand Comoro).—Resembles the female, but the back is ashy in colour, and the 
primaries are slightly glossed with green ; tail pale chestnut as in the female. 
Although the male of the present species, which is confined to the island of Grand Comoro, differs 
from its near ally L. discolor merely in size, the female and young are very easily distinguishable 
in having the tail pale chestnut or foxy red instead of dark brown; and as this difference is constant 
there can be no doubt that it is a fairly good species and should be kept apart from L. discolor. 
In habits, note, and mode of nidification it probably agrees closely with that species, but I find 
nothing on record respecting these, and indeed, as will be seen from the above synonymy, the 
information we have respecting this bird is extremely meagre. 
p 2 
