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PLATYSTOMUS, 
which represents the fissirostral type of this most 
natural group ; the only species yet known being 
the Eurylaimus Blainvilli of M.M. Garnot and 
Lesson. The unique specimen brought home by 
these naturalists was met with in New Guinea, 
and is now deposited in the Paris Museum, where 
we had the satisfaction of drawing and examining 
it some years ago. The ground colour of the whole 
plumage is a deep and glossy raven-black, with the 
rump and belly Vermillion, and two conspicuous 
white spots, one on the ears and another on the 
nape ; the wings are lengthened, the tail forked, 
and the feet small and feeble. It assumes, in fact, 
as much of the structure of a swallow as it can well 
do, consistent with the preservation of its real 
affinities. 
