PHRENOTRIX TEMIA. 



The general colour of the Phrenotrix is sooty black, with a rich and very 

 beautiful lustre of deep olive green, varying according to the degree of Ught to which 

 it is exposed. The bill and feet are intensely black; the extremity of the wings and 

 the taU underneath, have the general sooty ground colour; the reflection of olive 

 green shews itself but shghtly on the outer webs of the upper surface of the tail 

 feathers ; it is strongest on the body, scapulars, and back, where in some individuals 

 it approaches to a metallic lustre. It varies likewise according to the age of the bird, 

 and the more perfect condition of its plumage. 



A peculiar character of this bird is a border consisting of the most delicate and 

 minute plumes, purely and intensely black, without the least reflection, resembling 

 velvet in a certain aspect, which surrounds the upper mandible, and extending to 

 the eyes, encircles them, and passes narrower around the base of the lower mandible. 

 In this border Phrenotrix agrees with Paradisea; but the form of its bill and its other 

 characters shew a nearer relation to Corvus Pica and Corvus senegalensis. The plu- 

 mage of the body is thickly disposed, the webs of the separate plumes are fringed 

 and elongated, terminating in a long, silky, delicate down, extremely soft and plea- 

 sant to the touch. This peculiarity is faithfully noticed by M. Le VaiUant, who 

 deserves the credit of having first described the Phrenotrix from the collection of 

 Mr. Temminck in Amsterdam. It has appeared to me that the subject described by this 

 celebrated ornithologist agrees specifically with our's, although it is represented, 

 both in the drawing and description, with the four middle tail feathers equal, and 

 less expanded, and with a brownish colour, having a purple reflection. 



The Phrenotrix, although not a rare bird in Java, is by no means familiar, and 

 never approaches the villages and habitations like many others. It can only be 

 observed near solitary hamlets situated in tracts recently cleared for cultivation, 

 where its food is abundantly supplied by the insects contained in the rich mould, and 

 by the wild fruit trees about the skirts. In consequence of the shortness of the 

 wings, its motions are slow : it is chiefly seen about noon sailing heavily through the 

 air, in a right line towards the trees surrounding the openings in the forest. The 

 strength of the bill and of the claws shews its adaptation to feed both on fruits and 

 insects. 



It remains for me to give the reasons for separating Phrenotrix from the genus 

 Corvus. Among the species of this genus which I have been able to obtain for com- 

 parison, Phrenotrix is most nearly allied to Corvus senegalensis and to Corvus Pica. 

 The latter M. Cvivier has arranged as a Sous-genre of Corvus, while M. Temminck 

 has placed it in the second section of that genus. I have endeavoured, in order to 



