BALASNICEPS REX, Gould 
BY 
Dr. BARON J. W. VON MULLER. 
Translated from the Naumannia , Arcliiv fur die Ornithologies, &c., by II. J., May, 1862. 
From one of these islands (near Chartum on the White Nile), 
I saw two large birds arise which excited iny curiosity to the 
highest ; unfortunately I could not obtain them, and it was long 
before they again came into my view. These two birds differed 
from all birds known to mo, by an enormously large spoon-shaped 
bill, and I was convinced that it must be a new and interesting 
genus. After my return from Kordofan, a collection of skins was 
offered to me, in Chartum, for sale by a resident European (Nicola 
Ullivi), amongst which I saw two birds, which I immediately knew 
to be the same as those I had observed on the White Nile. My 
desire to obtain both these birds caused the man to anticipate their 
value, and he desired of me the exorbitant price of a thousand 
dollcirs for his collection. Gladly as I would have brought away 
this offering to science, yet my means did not admit of the pur- 
chase, as I had been completely plundered in Kordofan. Though 
somewhat disappointed, I expressed to my secretary, the hope that 
we should soon sec these birds make their appearance in England. 
My prediction is now fulfilled. The celebrated English ornitho- 
logist, Gould, has recently made known this genus, under the name 
of Balamiceps. 
The Balamiceps of Gould belongs to the class of Grallatores. 
It is the size of a small pelican. Its enormous bill, similar in form 
to Cancroma , ends in a strong hook, is yellow in the male, and in 
the female brownish-red, with a paler brown ridge. The nostrils 
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