PHIBALURA cristata. 

 Crested SJiortbill. 



Gexeuic Characteh. 



{Fhihalura Vicillot.) 



Rostrum hrevhsimum, trigonum, latins qiunn altum ; mandibula snperiore culmine 

 suhcurvata carinuta ; bifcriore recta ; utrisque inarginatis. Kares hasules, 

 simpUces, suhrotundce, plumulis densis incnmbentibits in totum ohtecta. Rictus 

 ampli, infra oculos apcrientes. AUe attenuate, 7-emigibus spuriis nuUis. Cauda 

 elonguta, furcata, ixctricihus duodecim. Pedes insidentes, digitis anticis aquo/' 

 liter fissis, ad b&sin subconnexis. 



Bill very short, triangular, broader than high; upper mandible above slightly 

 curved and carinated ; lower mandible straight, both notched. Nostrils 

 simple, Ixisal, roundish, entirely concealed by ihick-set incumbent fea- 

 thers. Mouth large, opening beneath the eye. Wings pointed; spurious 

 quills none. Tail elongated, forked, of twelve leathers. Feet formed for 

 sitting ; the fore-toes equally cleft and slightly connected at their base. 



Specific Character. 



P. corpore tupra nigra Jicvo variegato ; siibtus albo, fasciis 7iigris Iransversis ; mento 



fiavo, capitis crista rufa nigra varieguto, alis cuudaque dongata furcatu, cha- 



li/beis vmnaculatis. 

 Above black varied with yellow ; beneath white, with transverse black bands ; 



chin yellow. Head crested, the feathers rufous, varied with black. Wings, 



and elongated forked tail raven- black, immaculate. 



Jr OR this beautiful and extraordinary bird I am indebted to Miss 

 E. Yeates, of the Dingle near Liverpool, who received it from South 

 America. Its general habit clearly points it out as belonging to the 

 Baccavorce or Berryeaters, apparently connecting the genera Proc^ 

 nias and Pipr-a, vvhere Temminck with much judgement has also 

 placed it, in the new edition of his Manuel tV Ornithohgie ']\x^t re- 

 ceived, and before reading which I had considered the genus as un- 

 published. 



The total length is nine inches, of which the tail occupies four and 

 a half. The bill is whitish, and is remarkably short, measuring 

 only three lines from the nostrils to the tip, but three quarters of an 

 inch from the angle of the mouth, which opens just under the eye : 

 the plumage is singularly variegated : the crown of the head is fur- 

 nished with a crest, which, when not elevated, is scarcely seen, and 

 appears a deep glossy black mixed with grey and rufous ; but when 

 erected it is very conspicuous, and all the feathers arc bright rufous 

 tipt more or less with black ; the upper sides of the head grey, the 

 lower part and ears deep-black ; the neck above is greyish-white, 

 with blackish transverse hnes : the back, scapulars, rump and tail- 

 covers are varied transversely with olive, shining black, and briglit 

 yellow, each feather being olive at the base, black in the middle, and 

 yellow at the tip. Beneath the feathers of the chin and j)art of the 

 throat arc somewhat lengthened, semi-setaceous, and of a bright yel- 

 low ; the neck and breast are white, with two transverse lines of tleep 

 black on each feather; these lines diminish, and are broken mto 

 PI. 31. 



