184 NEW SPECIES 



ture of its bill, legs, and claws, (the bill is far less formidable than 

 it seems to be, and the claws are very obtuse), one should conclude 

 that it is not raptorial, even in the meanest sense : and its perfect 

 freedom from all offensive odour, as well as the excellency of its flesh, 

 (which is much esteemed by the mountaineers for the table) seem 

 to go far towards proving, that it is almost exclusively frugivorous. Ne- 

 vertheless, it cannot be denied that, in the tame state, this species will 

 eat meat (either raw or dressed) with as much apparent relish as fruit : 

 and its natural habits, in regard to food, must, therefore, for the present, 

 remain doubtfid. That which I am describing, is fed principally with 

 boiled rice, mixed with ghee, and made up into large balls. Water it 

 never touches. The throat is very wide, and the swallowing powers pro- 

 digious. Whatever is offered to the bird as food, is gulped entire, after 

 being rubbed, more or less, according to the exigency, between the huge 

 mandibles of the bill : and if not capable of being thus disposed of, it 

 is reject erl. As a consequence of this mode of feeding, the bird is apt 

 to be incommoded by its food, after it has reached the upper stomach ; 

 in which case the substance swallowed, is immediately and easily re- 

 gorged into the bill, rubbed a little more, and swallowed again. 



Its odious voice, awkward gait, frequently erected tail, and sombre- 

 pied plumage, proclaim its relationship to the Corvida of the Stirps 

 Corviiia : whilst its superior size, huge bill, gressorial feet, and tiny, 

 triangular fiat tongue, are famili/ features that cannot be mistaken. 



M. le Vaillant complains of the unnecessary multiplication of species 

 in this genus. Yet I venture to anticipate, that the bird now described, 

 will be allowed to be a new species. I am not sure whether it be male or 

 female : nor can I satisfactorily learn, if the sexes are distinguished by 



any 



