CHIZiERHIS CONCOLOR, 
backwards from the forehead, and is formed of the elongated feathers of that 
part with their vanes much decomposed. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from the tip of the hill to the 
extremity of the tail 20 3 
of the bill o 11 
of the wings when folded 8 6 
of the tail 10 0 
The female scarcely differs either in 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of the tarsus 1 9 
of the middle toe 1 3 
of the hinder toe 0 3^ 
colour or size from the male. 
It was upon reaching 25° 24' south latitude, a point where the livers began to flow to the 
eastward, and the country to acquire a partial clothing of dwarf trees and brushwood, that this 
species was first discovered. As soon as it was observed, the Hottentots declared it to be a muis 
vogel, or Colins, Lin., and they persisted ever afterwards in regarding it as such, which was not 
surprising, since it evinces considerable similarity to birds of that genus, not only in its carriage 
when perched, but also in its mode of flight and in various other points which will be noticed 
more at length hereafter. Its favourite resort seemed to be the immediate banks of rivers, and 
it was seen either perched upon the highest branches of the trees which occurred in these 
situations, or flitting to and fro among them in search of the fruits, which constitute its 
principal food. It is a bird of short flight, and when disturbed and driven from any particular 
haunt, it seldom passes the nearest tree without alighting, unless it may think itself not suffi- 
ciently removed from the source of danger. When flying, it sometimes flaps its wings with 
considerable quickness and vigour, but more generally it soars along with them completely ex- 
tended, and even scarcely moves them until it has actually perched. When at rest, and with- 
out any suspicion of danger, it has a clumsy dull appearance, with its head sunk to its 
shoulders, and at such times utters occasionally a harsh cry resembling “ mea.” When 
excited, however, by the appearance of an object of suspicion, or its attention is arrested by 
any unusual noise, it exhibits a very opposite and elegant appearance : its crest, which in a 
state of rest is generally recumbent, then becomes erected, while its head, if not its whole 
body, is moved in various directions, as if endeavouring to discover the cause of its alarm ; 
and at such times its cries are harsher and more frequent. The individuals first discovered 
weie extiemely shy and watchful, but as we advanced in the country, where specimens were 
more abundant, less caution w*as observed, and there were days when we might have shot at 
least forty or fifty individuals had it been desirable. Besides the remains of fruits, the wings 
and other parts of grylli vvere found in the stomachs of several which were examined. 
When first 1 became acquainted with this bird I was inclined to consider it as forming a 
type for a new genus, which I proposed to call Colipldmus. Since my return to Europe, how- 
ever, I have had opportunities of comparing it with Chizcerhis of Wagler, and not having found 
sufficient peculiarities to warrant its being regarded apart from that genus, the name by which 
it was originally designated is consequently discontinued. 
