COSSYPHA NATALENSIS.— Sm ith .
A ves.— P late LX.—M ale.
C. capite, cerviceque aurantio-brunneis, aurantio-tinctis; dorsi summo, humerisque purpureo-coeruleis;
dorsi imo, rectricibus duabus interna ediis, dimidioque rectricis externee exceptis, partibusque inferiori-
bus rubro-aurantiis; rectricibus intermediis, dimidio rectricis extern®, remigibusque brunneis, his
externe cceruleo-griseo-marginatis; oculis brunneis.
Longitudo ab apice rostri ad basin caudas 4 unc. 3 lin.; caudas, 3 unc. 3 lin.
C o lo u r .— 'The upper parts of the head and neck orange-coloured brown
tinted with gall-stone-yellow, the latter clearest upon the neck; the interscapulars,
scapulars, back and lesser wing coverts bright lavender-purple
variegated with gall-stone-yellow, many of the feathers, particularly the interscapular
ones, being of that colour towards the base of their inner vanes.
The posterior part of the back, the rump, the upper tail coverts, the inner
vane of the outermost tail feather of each side, and the four next to it intermediate
between gall-stone-yellow and deep reddish orange. The front,
eyebrows, space before eyes, sides of head and all the under parts bright
gall-stone-yellow, the belly and vent lightest. The primary and secondary
quill coverts, the primary and secondary quill feathers, the outer vane of the
outermost tail feather of each side and the two middle ones light chocolate-
red ; the primary quill coverts and quill feathers, with the exception of the
two outermost and three innermost of the latter, distinctly margined externally
with lavender-purple, the last mentioned three and a few of the secondary
quill coverts are edged and tipt with light gall-stone-yellow, and each
of the latter has a spot of the same colour but of a brighter hue at its point.*
Bill brownish red, darkest at the base. Legs and toes a flesh-colour tinged
with brown. Eyes dark brown.
F orm , &c .—Figure rather slender. Bill nearly straight, the upper man-
* Owing to this circumstance we are disposed to regard this as an immature bird, and as the feathers
of the head and neck are at their base of the same colour as the interscapular feathers, we are inclined to
believe that the head, neck, and back will be found to be of one uniform tint, when the bird shall be
obtained with the adult plumage.