EURYLAIMUS JAVANICUS, Horsf. 



Javanese Eurylaime. 



Eurylaimus Jawnicus, Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol xiii. p. 170.— lb. Zool. Res. in Java, pi. 5.— Lath. Gen. 

 Hist., vol. iv. p. 96.— Vig. App. to Mem. of Sir S. Raffles, p. 653.— Less. Man. d'Orn., torn. i. 

 p. 175.— lb. Traite d'Orn., p. 261.— Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 195.— 

 Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 168.— Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 65, Eurylaimus, sp. 1.— 

 List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., part ii. sec. 1. p. 36.— Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., 

 p. 116. 



Eurylaimus Horsfieldi, Temm. PL Coll. 130, 131.— Swains, in Jard. Nat. Lib. Orn., vol. x. Flycatchers, p. 240. 



pi. 30. 

 Platyrhynchos horsfieldi, Vieill. Gal. des Ois., torn. i. p. 200. pi. 125. 

 Tamplana Lilin, Malays. 





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Although the singularly fine bird figured in the accompanying Plate — the type of Dr. Horsfield's genus 

 Eurylaimus — has now been known for many years, nothing has yet been recorded respecting its habits 

 and economy. 



The only note respecting it which has come under my observation is the one by Dr. Horsfield in the 

 13th volume of the Linnaean Transactions, where he remarks, " I discovered this species in one of the 

 most distant and inaccessible parts of Java, covered with extensive forests, and abounding with rivers and 

 marshes." 



Independently of Java, it is now known to inhabit the great island of Borneo on the one side, and the 

 Malayan peninsula, from Singapore to Tenasserim, on the other; future research will probably inform us 

 that it enjoys a still further range. 



Among the specimens at the East India House is an immature one from Tenasserim, presented by 

 Mr. Heifer, which exhibits a state of plumage quite different from that of the adults: it is described 

 below. 



Fully adult individuals also differ, some being entirely destitute of the black pectoral band. This con- 

 spicuous band is doubtless a sexual characteristic ; in all probability the specimens in which it is wanting 

 are females. 



" The colouring of the head and neck," says Mr. Swainson, " is very peculiar, and is so mixed and 

 blended as not to admit of an easy definition. 



" The top and sides of the head are of a chestnut black, graduating into a shade of cinereous on the 

 nape, and of vinaceous red on the ears and sides of the throat; this changes to dark brown on the lower 

 part of the neck above and then into deep black, which is the ground colour of the remaining upper 

 plumage ; " down the centre of the back a series of yellow feathers narrowly edged with black ; upper tail- 

 coverts largely tipped with yellow; lengthened scapularies yellow with black bases; edges of the shoulders 

 and the under wing-coverts yellow ; wings black, the feathers of the secondaries with a lengthened mark of 

 yellow along their outer web near the tip, forming a broad band when the wing is closed ; at the base of 

 the primaries a mark of yellowish white; tail black, the outer feather on each side crossed near the tip by 

 a broad band of sulphur-white ; the next four on each side with a large spot of yellowish white on the inner 

 side near the tip, decreasing in size as the feathers approach the two middle ones, which are entirely black; 

 throat vinous red, bounded below by a narrow line of black, posterior to which is a wash of olive; under 

 surface dark vinaceous blood-red ; thighs black ; under tail-coverts dull vinaceous yellow ; bill apparently 

 deep bluish green. 



In the young bird above referred to, the general colour is vinous brown, becoming paler on the head and 

 under surface; all the feathers, particularly those of the back, wings and tail-coverts, conspicuously streaked 

 with yellow. 



The Plate represents a male, a female, and the young of the size of life. 



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