The Zoologist— June, 1870. 2161 



latter "So; tomia of under mandible *90 ; gonys "40; depth of bill 

 opposite posterior end of nares "45; width at same point "35. 



Young. Similar to the adult, except in the following points: — the 

 bill is smaller, weaker, less irregular and sinuous in outline, less 

 biighlly coloured, wanting the expansion and eversion of the tomial 

 edges of the two mandibles near their base, and with little or no trace 

 of the supernumerary piece at the angle of the mouth. Even in the 

 youngest specimens the bill shows unmistakable signs of its future 

 character, and cannot be confounded with the simple conic bill of 

 tetraculus, &c. The crest and white setaceous feathers are wanting, 

 or only traces of them are apparent. The colour is less blackish, 

 more inclining to a fuliginous dusky above, and to a light dull 

 brownish gray below. 



This species never acquires a distinct parli-coloration like that of 

 most species of the genus. With the exception of the whitish fila- 

 mentous feathers on the head, the colours are uniform over the whole 

 body, varying in shade on different parts ; and the transition from the 

 darkest, that of the upper parts, to the palest on the lower is effected 

 by imperceptible degrees. The brilliantly coloured bill is a con- 

 spicuous feature. The colour of the feet cannot be accurately defined 

 in the dried state; but the lints are probably not very striking. The 

 crest only makes its appearance after the bird is full grown, is at least 

 nearly a year old, and has acquired pretty much the perfect shape of 

 the bill. The same is true of the white supra- and post-ocular fila- 

 ments; and generally among the Phaleridine birds, the presence of 

 these peculiar head-ornaments may be relied on as indices that the 

 bird is adult, and that its bill has acquired its mature form. It is just 

 possible, however, that these remarks may not apply to the setaceous 

 frontal feathers of S. microceros and pusillus. The crest of R. crista- 

 lellus first appears as a little bundle of short straight feathers shooting 

 out backwards from the plumage of the forehead. These plumes, in 

 an early state of their growth, are much broader, that is, with more 

 distinct barbs or fibiillae, than subsequently ; considerable time 

 elapses before they begin to curl over forwards, and they may continue 

 straight until they are an inch or rather more in length. When full 

 grown, they are nigh unto two inches long, curve until they almost 

 make a circle, drooping gracefully, helmet-wise, upon the bill itself. 

 The crest of this and other species is doubtless moved by peculiar 

 muscles, and entirely subject to the control of its wearer, like the very 

 similar crests of the birds of the genus Lophortyx. 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. V. 2 E 



