PARRA SUPERCILIOSA. 



as a variety, by the epithet of minor. In the Systematic Catalogue of Birds 

 from ' Java, this name was also applied to it ; and this confirms the propriety 

 of its employment, as it was given before any reference had been made to the 

 drawings of Dr. Hamilton, to whom is due this notice of the priority of its 

 application. Our bird agrees with the other Jacanas in the great length of the 

 tarsi and toes. I have therefore to remark, that on our Plate the tarsi are 

 represented in a small degree shorter than should have been the case; this has 

 arisen from the attitude in which the specimen in the Museum was placed. 



The Parra superciliosa measures, from the point of the bill to the end of the 

 tail, eleven inches and one half; the entire length of the bird, from the bill to the 

 extended toes, is nearly eighteen inches : the individuals vary considerably in size. 

 The plumage of the head, neck, breast, and body underneath, is deep black, with 

 a reflection of the most saturated green, which, when exposed to the light, exhibits 

 a gloss of deep emerald green. The greater and lesser coverts of the wings have a 

 tint of deep olive green, with a metallic lustre, inclining to brown. AU these 

 feathers are lengthened, and directed across the wing, and are capable of being 

 raised so as to expose the spur. The direction of the secondary quill-feathers appears 

 to be similar ; the wing is consequently of great breadth, and peculiarly fitted to 

 assist the bird in walking. The quUl-feathers, both primary and secondary, are 

 black ; but this tint towards the extremity passes into brown, and has a considerable 

 splendour. The tail has a brilliant brown colour, inclining to reddish ; this is more 

 saturated on the coverts of the tail, and acquires a dark violet or purple gloss, which 

 is observably more intensely tinctured on the lower part of the neck, and also sHghtly 

 shews itself on the plumes which cover the back. A pure white line extends from the 

 anterior angle of the eye along the head towards the neck, afibrding a strongly 

 marked character to our bird. The colour of the bill is sulphureous yellow on every 

 part, excepting the upper mandible, from the nostrils to the forehead ; here the 

 membranaceous covering of the base of the bill, and the frontal clypeus, is of a dark 

 blue colour inclining to brown ; the clypeus itself is large, and almost regularly 

 rounded. The feet have a brownish gray colour, and the kides are dark brown. 

 The spur of the wings is conical, obtuse, of moderate length, and of a yellow colour. 



In Dr. Hamilton's drawing of the Parra superciliosa, the distribution of colours 

 is precisely the same as in the Javanese specimens, but the tints are less brilliant. 

 At the base of the upper mandible an attenuated red line, nearly half an inch in 

 length, is observed, which is mentioned in Dr. Latham's description. In its manners 

 the Parra superciliosa agrees with other birds of this genus : it is by no means rare 

 near the confines of lakes, or of artificial reservoirs of water, in many parts of Java. 



