STELLATED GERINGORE, 155 



it as a separate specie?, and it ought to be retained 

 as such, unless extended observation and well authen- 

 ticated facts prove it a mere variety, or some parti- 

 cular state of plumage, of another species, arising 

 from age or sex. In it the typical form of the bill 

 is prominently marked, the outline or perspective 

 contour forming nearly a semicircle, the depth at the 

 base, as may be seen in the figure, is very great, and 

 considerably exceeding the length, measured from 

 the rictus or gape to the tip. The under mandible 

 is wider than the upper, and toothed, with the front 

 deeply emarginate. The upper is thick at the base, 

 compressed or cestiform towards the culmen, the tip 

 bending inwards, and not projecting far beyond the 

 under mandible* Its colour is greyish-white. The 

 forehead is scarcely crested, but the feathers upon 

 the vertex are a little elongated. The mass of the 

 plumage is of a greenish-black, deepest upon the 

 back and wings, where it assumes a purplish tinge. 

 The cheeks are yellow, with some markings of the 

 same colour on the sides of the head, and the lesser 

 wing-coverts are speckled with paler yellow. The 

 tail is of mean length, the two middle feathers en- 

 tirely black, the ,ateral with their bases and tips 

 black, the intermediate space being vermilion, with 

 from five to seven narrow bars of black, the interior 

 webs are margined with yellow. The shafts of the 

 tail feathers project in the form of a bristle beyond the 

 barbules, which appear worn down by attrition. It 

 is a native of Australia, but unfortunately little at- 



