PHRKNOTRIX TEMIA 
The general colour of the Phrenotrix is sooty black, with a rich and very 
beautiful lustre of deep oli ve green, varying according to the degree of light to which 
it is exposed. The bill and feet are intensely black; the extremity of the wings and 
the tail underneath, have the general sooty ground colour; the reflection of olive 
green shews itself but slightly on the outer webs of the upper surface of the tail 
feathers ; it is strongest on the body, scapulars, and back, where in some individuals 
it approaches to a metallic lustre. It varies likewise according to the age of the bird, 
and the more perfect condition of its plumage. 
A peculiar character of tins bird is a border consisting of the most delicate and 
minute plumes, purely and intensely black, without the least reflection, resembling 
velvet in a certain aspect, which surrounds the upper mandible,, and extending to 
the eyes, encircles them, and passes narrower around the base of the lower mandible. 
In this border Phrenotrix agrees with Paradisea; but the form of its bill and its other 
characters shew a nearer relation to Corvus Pica and Corvus senegalensis. The plu- 
mage of the body is thickly disposed, the webs of the separate plumes are fringed 
and elongated, terminating in a long, silky, delicate down, extremely soft and plea- 
sant to the touch. This peculiarity is faithfully noticed by M. Le Vaillant, who 
deserves the credit of having first described the Phrenotrix from the collection of 
Mr. Temminck in Amsterdam. It has appeared to me that the subject described by this 
celebrated ornithologist agrees specifically with our's, although it is represented, 
both in the drawing and description, with the four middle tail feathers equal, and 
less expanded, and with a brownish colour, having a purple reflection. 
The Phrenotrix, although not a rare bird in Java, is by no means familiar, and 
never approaches the villages and habitations like many others. It can only be 
observed near solitary hamlets situated in tracts recently cleared for cultivation, 
where its food is abundantly supplied by the insects contained in the rich mould, and 
by the wild fruit trees about the skirts. In consequence of the shortness of the 
wings, its motions are slow : it is chiefly seen about noon sailing heavily through the 
air, in a right line towards the trees surrounding the openings in the forest. The 
strength of the bill and of the claws shews its adaptation to feed both on fruits and 
insects. 
It remains for me to give the reasons for separating Phrenotrix from the genus 
Corvus. Among the species of this genus which I have been able to obtain for com- 
parison, Phrenotrix is most nearly allied to Corvus senegalensis and to Corvus Pica. 
The latter M. Cuvier has arranged as a Sous-genre of Corvus, while M. Temminck 
has placed it in the second section of that genus. I have endeavoured, in order to 
