PTILONORHYNCHUS NUCHALIS, nobis. 

 Ruffed Ptilonorhynchus. 



PLATE CIII. 



P. brunneo-griseus, subtus pallidior ; tectricibus alarum, scapularibus, remigibus rec- 

 tricibusque albido margiuatis ; fascia nuchali splendide purpurascente-rosea plu- 

 mulis sericeis circumdata. 



1 his curious bird will form a fifth species of Ptilonorhynchus, if we admit 

 the two species lately placed in the genus by M. Temminck, viz. the Rol- 

 lier de la Chine of Buffon's PI. Enluminees, and the Piroll thalassin (Kitta 

 thalassina) of M. Temminck himself. We are not, however, prepared to 

 do this without a more minute examination than we have yet been enabled 

 to give them ; and we suspect that when this is made, our conclusions will 

 be different. The species will at present stand, — 1. Pt. Holosericeus ; 2. 

 P. vireseens ; (Kitta holosericeus and virescens, Temm.) The two specific 

 names being applied by M. Temminck a year previous to those of Mr. 

 Vigors and Dr. Horsfield in the Linnean Transactions ; the first was 

 published in 1825, — the 15th part of the Linnean Transactions did not 

 appear until 1826*. 3. and 4. M. Temminck's two Indian species, of 

 which we are doubtful ; and, 5. Our P. nuchalis. 



Our figure is a little more than two-thirds the size of nature, length of 

 the specimen being about fifteen inches. The bill, from the base of the 

 mandible, exceeds an inch, arched, culmen round, nostrils round, and not 

 covered by any projecting feathers of the forehead : the head and upper 

 parts of the body greyish-brown, the feathers of the former with a shining 

 or satiny lustre ; those of the back, the wing-coverts, scapulars, quills and 

 tail, of the same colour, and tipped with greyish-white : on the nape of 



* We are thus unwillingly obliged to deprive Sir J. E. Smith and Mr Macleay of the honour 

 of having their names recorded in these species ; but have endeavoured to remedy this in our Hal- 

 cyon Macleayii and Columba Smithii, both species from New Holland, and also in the Linnean So- 

 ciety's collection. 



