PLATYRYNCHUS COLLARIS, (nobis). 

 Collared Platyrynchus . 



PLATE IX.— Fig. 1. 



P. supra uiger chalybeo uitore, subtus albus, nigra pectorali vitta, oculis carunculatis. 



at is with a considerable degree of hesitation that we have placed the two 

 species now figured in the genus Platyrhynchus, although they approach 

 nearer to it than to any other in their general characters. We are entirely ig- 

 norant of their habits or manners of life, and even of the country to which 

 they belong ; and although there are some differences in the structure of the 

 feet and wings, that might be deemed sufficient for the formation of a new 

 genus, we think it better to place them in Platyrhyncus, until we have had 

 an opportunity of examining a greater number of specimens and species, and 

 of ascertaining correctly some facts regarding their habits and country. 

 They differ from the type in the bill, although much depressed being re- 

 markably strong ; in the form of the nostrils, which are linear, and perfect- 

 ly free or uncovered on the under side ; in the structure of the feet, which 

 have the outer toes connected as far as the first joint from the extremity, 

 and the inner as far as the first from the joining of the tarsus ; the first quill- 

 feather is very short, almost spurious ; the fourth and fifth are longest. Both 

 species have a remarkable cartilaginous wattle above the eyes, arising from 

 the upper eye-lids. 



The length is five inches and a quarter : the head, back, and wing-coverts 

 are deep shining bluish-black. Above the eyes there is a broad caruncle, 

 arising from the upper eye-lids, which, in the living bird, appears to have 

 been bright yellow ; the throat and under parts of the body are pure white, 

 with a deep bluish-black band in the form of a crescent, surrounding the up- 

 per part of the breast, and joining the colours on the back of the neck ; the 

 quills are brownish-black, with a narrow edge of dusky white ; the edges of 

 the greater wing-coverts are white, and join a band of the same colour which 

 crosses the shoulder, appearing to be a continuation of it longitudinally along 



(9) d 



