254 



CROWNED CRYPTONYX. 



This is distinguished from the following species 

 by its larger size, by the extent of the naked space 

 round its eyes, and by the form of the orbits, 

 which have a prominent margin, deeply notched : 

 both sexes possess six long bristles at the base of 

 the beak, which the bird can elevate or depress at 

 will : the length of the adult male is ten inches : 

 he is distinguished by having a fine tuft of long 

 feathers on the head, composed of rather hard 

 shafts and disunited webs ; this reaches to the 

 hind head, and forms a kind of diadem, which the 

 bird can depress : the forehead is black : at the 

 base of the beak (as already noticed) are six 

 bristles, which measure about an inch and a 

 quarter in length, and form a sort of small crest ; 

 between which and the larger one the colour is 

 pure w^hite : the feathers of the greater crest are 

 chesnut-red, and are disposed in a semicircle as 

 far as the occiput : the space round the eyes, as 

 w^ell as a larger one behind, is naked, and deep 

 red ; which colour appears between the little 

 feathers that adorn the sides of the head : the 

 cheeks, the nape, the scapulars, and the whole of 

 the under part of the plumage, are of a black hue, 

 changing to fine violet : the back, the rump, and 

 the tail-coverts, are deep green : the feathers of 

 the tail are black : the whole of the wing-coverts 

 and the secondary feathers are of a deep red- 

 brown ; the smaller coverts being shaded with 

 violet : the quills are deep brown on their oiiter 

 webs, and on their inner red, with zigzag black 

 marks : the upper mandible of the beak is generally 



