LAMPROTORNIS BTTRCHELLII.
oval, the upper margins prominent. Wings very large, rounded, and when
folded reach nearly to the commencement of the last half of the tail, the
third, fourth, and fifth quill-feathers equal and longest, the sixth slightly
shorter, the second and seventh equal and about an inch shorter than the
longest ones, the first not quite half the length of the second; the points
of the inner vanes of the three longest feathers obliquely truncated. Tail
long, full, and strongly graduated, the two middle feathers longest and
slightly narrower than the lateral ones; the external one of each side about
half the length of the two middle ones, the intermediate ones successively
graduated between the two extremes. Tarsi strong, anteriorly distinctly
scutellated, posteriorly entire; toes strong, particularly the hinder one, the
lateral ones nearly of equal length and shorter than the hinder one, the
middle one the longest; claws blunt and slightly curved, those of the hinder
toes large and robust.
DIMENSIONS.
Length from the- point of the bill to
the tip of the tail ........ .
of the bill from the gape .......
of the tail...... ..........................
of the wings when folded ......
Inches. Lines, 1 TIn c,h es. LTi.nes.
Length of the tarsus............... . j 7 1
6 of the outer toe....................... o 7 1
1 l i of the inner toe ................... 0 7 L
3 9 of the middle toe ................. 0 1 1 j
‘ ® I of the hinder to e .................... 0 gj.
In the female the tail is rather shorter, in proportion, than in the male ; and
the metallic gloss of the plumage, generally, not so brilliant.
We were aware of the existence of this bird for several weeks before we knew to what
group it belonged, or even could venture a surmise as to its relations. The great size of its
wings, and the peculiar appearance it had in consequence-when flying, baffled all our conjectures'
and the extreme caution and shyness it observed for a long time ensured it safety, evemin the
midst of our guns. It was rarely seen to leave high trees, except to remove from one to
another, so that, till specimens were actually secured, we never for an instant fancied it to be a
L am p ro tom is . It appeared to seek its food, which consisted of insects, and fruits, almost
exclusively upon trees; on the other hand, the more common species of South Africa obtain
much of theirs on the ground.
If it be essential, in order to carry out the plan of the Creator, that certain birds should be
provided with longer and more weighty tails than others of their congeners, it will also be
necessary that provision should be made to ensure them against injury or inconvenience from
such arrangement. We have indicated a provision in the instance under consideration in the
great development of the wing feathers, which can be necessary only to meet the increased
obstacles to the bird’s progressive motion through the air, created by the' length and weight of
the tail. In almost’, every bird in which the last-named organ ip of great size, we find the
wings also much larger than in species with the same size of body and with short tails. .
Another species of this genus, from North Africa, L am p ro tom is longicauda, furnishes evidence of
the fact, and several of the V id u a of South Africa might also be instanced, as well as mime-
rous other birds of different countries.
T h e first specimens we observed were in lat. 25“ South, and from thence the numbers gra-
dually increased as we advanced to the northward.