244 



PLATYSTOMUS, 



which represents the fissirostral type of this most 

 natural group ; the only species yet known being 

 the Eurylaimus Blainvilli of M.M. Garnot and 

 Lesson. The unique specimen brought home by 

 these naturalists was met with in New Guinea, 

 and is now deposited in the Paris Museum, where 

 we had the satisfaction of drawing and examining 

 it some years ago. The ground colour of the whole 

 plumage is a deep and glossy raven-black, with the 

 rump and belly vermillion, and two conspicuous 

 white spots, one on the ears and another on the 

 nape; the wings are lengthened, the tail forked, 

 and the feet small and feeble. It assumes, in fact, 

 as much of the structure of a swallow as it can well 

 do, consistent with the preservation of its real 

 ailinines. 



