of the Malayan Peninsula. 405 



inclining to white at the tip, and chipped at the edges ; the base 

 half of the lower mandible ochraceous and transversely canicu- 

 late ; remainder of the mandible dirty white. 



The second new species which I have ventured to nomenclate 

 is the Buceros luguhris, or Melancholy Hornbill. This species is 

 two feet long, having the bill very much hooked, destitute of 

 a helmet, and reddish yellow. Head, neck, throat, belly and 

 vent white, slightly sprinkled with black. Body, wings and tail 

 black, the latter tipped with white. This bird is melancholy in 

 its disposition, but withal voracious in its habits. I had one in 

 confinement for some time, feeding it principally on plantains, 

 which it devoured greedily, and never attempted to escape from 

 its perch. I destroyed it on account of the filth and stench 

 which it generated*. 



Amongst the Pheasant tribe, Malacca boasts of the Argus 

 giganticus of Temm., or the Phasianus argus of Linn., the Argus 

 pheasant, so justly celebrated for its superb plumage. Including 

 the two long tail-feathers, the male measures five feet three 

 inches in length. The secondary quill-feathers are brilliant with 

 ocellate spots (whence the name of Argus is given to the bird), 

 and are manufactured into fans by the Chinese. Like the rest 

 of the pheasant tribe, it is a remarkably shy bird. 



There are also the Phasianus ignitus, or fire-backed pheasant, 

 which is a very handsome bird, about the size of a barn-door 

 fowl, and the Phasianus nycthemeruSy or pencilled pheasant. 

 This last is however a very rare bird. The Cryptonyx coronatus 

 of Temm., or the Malacca partridge, is a very handsome bird, 

 having a chestnut crest on the occiput, the body being generally 

 of a dark violet colour, and the back and rump of a dark shining 

 green. Its flesh resembles that of the European partridge in 

 flavour, and the bird can be kept in confinement. The Coturnix 

 textilis, or common Indian quail ; the Chinese quail, the Chara- 

 drius pluvialiSyJjinn.y or golden plover ; the Charadrius hiaticula, 

 Linn., or ringed plover; the Arenaria vulgaris y or common sand- 

 lark ; Gallinago media, or common snipe ; the Gallinago media, 

 or Scolopax gallinula, Linn., the jack snipe ; the Scolopax sinensis, 

 or Chinese, or painted snipe ; Anas boschas, the wild duck ; the 

 common, and the whistling teal ; and a species of the Phaopus, 

 or whimbrel, complete the game of the peninsula. 



There are two species of Bittern to be met with, viz. the Ardea 

 stellaris, or Botaurus stellaris, the common bittern, and the Bo- 

 t auras lentiginosus, or freckled bittern f ; they are however both 



* I have not been able to identify this with any described species. — - 

 IL E. S. 



f This must be an error, B, lentiginosus being an American species, occa- 

 sionally straying into Britain, but unknown in Asia. — 11. E. S, 



