245 
FORK-TAILED GAPER. 
Platystomus Blainvillii, Swains. 
PLATE XXXI. 
Glossy blue-black ; stripe on the ears, and spot on the nape, 
white ; rump, vent, and tail-covers, crimson ; tail forked. 
Eurylaimus Blainvillii, Gamot , Zool. Coquille, PI. 19 Erolla 
Blainvillii, Lesson. Trait. il'Om. 260— Platystomus Blain- 
villii, Sw. Class, of Birds, ii. p. 261. 
The structure of tliis exceedingly rare bird has al- 
ready been fully explained in another place*, and 
its affinities and analogies have just been glanced 
at. The annexed figure and description are both 
taken from the only specimen as yet known, now 
in the Paris Museum, and discovered by M. Gamot 
in the Island of New Guinea. 
The general ground colour of the entire plumage, 
both above and beneath, is deep and uniform black, 
glossed with blue, particularly on the head and 
breast. A broad white stripe begins at the gape, 
covers the ears, and terminates beyond, on each 
side of the neck ; a similar patch, but smaller, is 
between the nape and the interscapulars ; from the 
lower part of the back to the upper tail-covers, the 
* Class, of Birds, ii. p. 261. 
