BYCANISTES SUBCYLINDMCUS. 



SCLATEB'S HOENBILL. 



Buceros subcylindricus, Sclat. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1870) p. 668, pi. 39; Giebel, Thesaur. Ormth. (1872) p. 503; 

 Elliot, Ibis (1873) p. 179; Murie, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1874) p. 422. 



Hab.? 



This form, described by Sclater (I. c), is only known from an example living in the Zoological 

 Gardens. It is allied to B. cylindricus, but differs from it in the great amount of white exhibited 

 upon the secondaries, and the black median tail-feathers, these last being nearly all white in its 

 relative. Its exact habitat is not known. Unfortunately the individual, after moulting its tail, 

 has never since produced a perfect one, so that I have not seen the bird with that appendage as 

 represented in my Plate, and also in that published in the ' Proceedings of the Zoological Society ' 

 in 1870. I consider that the principal claim this bird has to entitle it to be considered a 

 distinct species is in the peculiar coloration of the tail-feathers ; and it is to be regretted that the 

 individual in question is unwilling or unable to present us with the proof of his claim to a 

 distinctive rank. 



Immature specimen. — Bill black ; a small casque rises at base of the culmen and slopes 

 anteriorly to the maxilla, also black. Head crested. Head, neck, back, and breast black with 

 green reflections, the feathers of the crest being spotted with cinereous grey. Abdomen, under tail- 

 coverts, thighs, and the greater portion of the secondaries pure white. Tail white ; a broad band 

 near the central part, and the whole of the two median feathers except their tips, black. 



Total length 24 inches, wing 11*5, tail 10, bill along gape 4 



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