CHIZ.ERHIS 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 bill to the
extremity of the tail......... 20 3
of the b ill............................. 0 11
of the wings when folded....... 8 6
of the ta il............................. 10 0
Inches. Lines.
Length of the tarsus .................... . . 1 9
of the middle toe .................. 1 3
of the hinder toe .................. 0
The female scarcely differs either in colour or size from the male.
It was upon reaching 26° 24' south latitude, a point where the rivers 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 Colius, 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 sufficiently
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 extended,
and even scarcely moves them until it has actually perched. When at rest, and without
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 u 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
were extremely shy and watchful, but as we advanced in the country, where specimens were
more abundant, less caution was 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 were found in the stomachs of several which were examined.
When first I became acquainted with this bird I was inclined to consider it as forming a
type for a new genus, which I proposed to call Coliphimus. Since my return to Europe, however,
I have had opportunities of comparing it with Chizc&rhis 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.