146 
ROYAL GREAT-CREST. 
It would be difficult to convey, by words alone, 
a just idea of tbe peculiar form and colouring of 
the crest of this' bird, which, in proportion to the 
size of the bird, is the largest example of this orna- 
ment in the whole of the perchcrs. The shape of 
the feathers is linear in their length, and almost 
spatulate, or spoon-shaped, at their extremity : they 
are disposed transversely across the head in various 
lengths, so that the last are by far the longest ; their 
extremities are somewhat incurved, but those ad- 
joining the ears are narrower, and are pendant on 
the sides of the head, something like ear-drops. 
When erected, the feathers form a semicircle, or 
crescent, across the back of the crown, and have a 
most splendid appearance. The ground colour of 
all these feathers is of the richest chesnut-red, re- 
sembling brick-dust ; but each has a terminal spot 
of velvet-black, encircled by a margin of steel-blue, 
the effect of all which is heightened by a rich orange 
shade, intervening between the black spot and the 
deep red which succeeds. The rest of the plumage 
is comparatively plain; the upper parts are dark 
hair-brown, approaching to chestnut ; the under 
parts light fulvous, or ferrugineous, rather brighter 
and deeper on the tail, wdiich is slightly rounded. 
The other parts of its structure enters into the gene- 
ric character. 
Total length, 6J inches ; bill, gape, 1 ; front, 
•io ; wings, 31 ; tail beyond, lrr ; ditto, base, 3; 
tarsus, 
