and it seems to be entirely confined to South-western Africa. The
localities where Anchieta met with it were the Rio Chimba, Quil-
lengues, and Capangombe, where it was oalled by the natives
“ Melombeanganza.” The reddish purple colour on the throat and
head distinguish this bird from L. mevesi.
The following is a translation of the original description given by
Professor Barboza du Bocage: Of small size; head, neck, mantle,
scapulars and lesser wing-coverts, throat and breast, brilliant violet
purple, the feathers marked with an apical spot of golden copper ;
lower back, rump, and abdomen, golden copper; the primary quills
blackish, with scarcely any steel-blue gloss ; the secondaries more
or less violet purple, and barred with dusky ; tail long, violet purple
on the upper surface with transverse dusky bands; bill and feet
black, iris brown. Total length 14 inches; culmen, l'O; wing,
6‘0 ; tail, 8‘3 ; tarsus, 1*55.
Fig. Bocage, Orn. Angola, pi. vii.
405. L ampeotoenis a u s t r a l i s , Smith. Burch ell’s Glossy Starling.
Jidda australis, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 170.
This fine bird was discovered by the expedition under Sir A. Smith,
in lat. 25° south. It was rarely seen to leave high trees, but to seek
its food, which consisted of fruit and insects, exclusively upon them.
We have received it from Mr. Arnott at Colesberg, and Mr. Ayres
obtained it near the River Limpopo, where it was also met with by
M r Frank Oates. Mr. Andersson states that it abounds in the
Lake regions, and in the Damara country he found it abundant at
Schmelen’s Hope on the upper sources of the Swakop River. He
observes: “ I t is found singly or in pairs, and passes most of its
time on large trees, but occasionally descends to the ground in
search of insects, which, with berries, constitute its chief food. It
is, however, somewhat omnivorous in its habits; and I have observed
its stomach to contain much sand. It is a very shy bird, but very
lively, jerking its body and tail (the latter of which it can raise
quite perpendicularly), and uttering all the while harsh clamorous
notes.” Anchieta states that it is one of the commonest birds at
Humbe.
Plumage a bright resplendent green; ears violet-purple, with a
half collar of the same colour on the back of the neck ; belly green-
blue, with a steel gloss; tail graduated, the outermost feather of
each side three inches shorter than the two centre ones. Leng ,
13” 6"'; wing, 7” 6” ' ; tail, 6” 9'” .
Fig. Smith, Zool. S. Afr. pi. 47.
406. L a m p r o c o u u s p h c e n ic o p t e r u s , Swains.
R e d - s h o u l d e r e d Glossy Starling.
Jidda phcenicoptera, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 171.
Abundant throughout the eastern parts of the colony. Le
Vaillant first met with it on the borders of the Gamtoos River m vast
flocks. He says they are migratory, only visiting us during t e ry
season. They subsist on berries and grubs of all kinds, as is e
habits of other Starlings, and breed in trees, or on the ground, laying
five or six blueish-green eggs. Mr. Atmore says it never comes to
the westward of the Gamtoos River. He saw it abundan y a
Uitenhage, and all over the eastern frontier. Mr. Rickard notes
it from Port Elizabeth and East London. We much doubt its ever
breeding on the ground from all we could gather; we believe it
nests in hollow trees and old woodpeckers’ holes. It also sometimes
constructs its nest in farm-buildings, in scaffolding holes, and suchlike
places. . . T ,
Mr. Ayres has given the following note on the species in JSata :
“ These birds are generally to be found from three to a dozen
together, sometimes more, excepting in the spring, when they paare
off. They build in holes in the trunks of trees, generally at a good
height from the ground. I have known a pair of these birds take
possession of a Woodpecker’s nest, destroying the eggs, and laying
their own instead, which the Woodpeckers seemed rather tamely to
submit to. They feed almost entirely on fruits and berries, and are
destructive to our mulberries and other small fruits. They sometimes
hop about and feed-on the ground, somewhat like the Thrush
and Blackbird in England.” Mr. E. A. Barratt writes This, bird
I met with in several parts of the Transvaal and Free State. ■ They
congregate in vast flocks, and keep up a harsh chattering noise. I
have also shot them near Pretoria, Rustenberg, Potchefstroom, an
near Bloemfontein; and I noticed them on my farm on the Chalumna,
British Kaffraria, where they frequented the barns and buildings,
continually flying to and fro, like English starlings.” Mr. T E
Buckley shot the bird on the Limpopo and at Tati, at both of which