PHCENICOPHAUS JAVANICUS. 



the bill, the form and disposition of the nares, and the presence of a naked mamillary 

 space surrounding the eyes. In the general form of the bill, our bird is nearly allied 

 to several oriental species of Cuculvis, particularly to Cuculus clamosus ; but the 

 latter is not provided with vibrissEe. In possessing these, as well as in the peculiar 

 "lustre of the bill, our bird agrees with Phoenicophaus melanognathus ; but a more 

 accurate and critical examination of the bill of the Phoenicophaus javanicus, would 

 probably suggest the propriety, either of establishing a distinct division in the genus 

 Phoenicophaus, or of considering our bird as the type of a new genus. The nares 

 of Cuculus xanthorhyncus, C. flavus, and C fugax, possess, in a striking degree, the 

 character which is given to them in the generic description ; they are circular, and 

 surrounded with a naked, tubular, membranaceous eminence. In Phoenicophaus 

 javanicus, on the contrary, they are linear, and partially covered by the vibrissas at 

 the base of the bill ; while in Phoenicophaus melanognathus they are nearly oval, 

 situated at the base of the bill, and a longitudinal groove extends, parallel to the 

 margin, toward the border. The naked mamillary circle about the eyes is less 

 extensive in our bird than in Phoenicophaus melanognathus, but it exists in a sufficient 

 degree to distinguish it from the Cuculi above mentioned, in which there is no trace 

 of it. The feet of our bird pi'esent nothing peculiar, and in the wings it agrees 

 strictly with Phoenicophaus. 



The general physiognomy of our bii-d is that of the Phoenicophai. The body and 

 neck are slender, and the tail exceeds them considerably in length. The entire length 

 is eighteen inches, nearly eleven of which are occupied by the tail, which is gradated. 

 The upper parts generally are greenish-gray ; a metallic lustre is diffused over them, 

 shewing itself stronger on the upper parts of the tail, and on the extremity of the 

 wings, on which the tint is saturated, inclining to black. The head is of a lighter 

 tint, inclining to plumbeous, and without any lustre. The base of the bill is 

 surrounded with vibrissse, straggling, and pointing anteriorly and posteriorly. The 

 cheeks, the throat, the neck anteriorly, the vent, and the thighs, have a ferruginous- 

 chestnut tint, which in the latter is darker, inclining to rufous. The lower parts of 

 the breast and the abdomen have the plumbeous colour of the head, more diluted, 

 and slightly variegated with chestnut. The bill is red and shining, the naked space 

 about the eyes yellowish, and the feet are black. About half an inch of the extre- 

 mity of the tail-feathers is tipped with white, and the irides have also a whitish hue. 

 On the Plate our bird is represented two-thirds of the size of life. 



The Phoenicophaus javanicus is found in the society of various species of 

 Centropus, at the confines of large forests, in plains covered with low shrubs, and 

 solitary trees. It resembles the Phrenotrix Temmia in its habits and manners. The 

 shortness of its wings permits only interrupted flights. It is chiefly observed about 

 noon, and is remarkable by the beauty of its form. It is not found in great abundance. 



