CORYT SAIX PO R P H Y R E OL OPHA
(Arts -Platte 5 5) ■
CORYTHAIX PORPHYREOLOPHA .— V ig o r s .
A v e s.— P la t e XXXV.—M a l e .
C. fronte, strig&que per oculos splendide viridibus; capite cristato; remigibus secundariis, rectrici-busque
splendenti purpureis ; collo, abdomine medio, pectore, regioneque interscapulari gramineo-viridibus,
his subrufescentibus; dorso abdomine imo, femoribusque griseo-nigris, primo viridi-tincto; remigibus
primariis, fascid lata subpurpurascenti-coccineis ; rostro pedibusque subatris.
Longitudo corporis cum capite 7^ unc.; caudas 8 unc.
Corythaix porphyreolopha.—Vigors. Proceedings of Zoological Society, page 93, June 1831.
Corythaix burchellii.—Smith. South African Quarterly Journal, No. 5, page 13, Oct. 1831.
C o lo u r .— Front and sides of head brilliant dark green (duck green,) top of
head, rudimentary crest, tertiary quill feathers, upper tail coverts and tail
splendid purple, changing in some lights to brilliant deep green, with a strong
metallic lustre. Neck, upper part of belly, shoulders, interscapulars and
breast intermediate between sap and oil green, the two last named parts
distinctly tinged with rusty orange; back greyish black, strongly glossed with
green ; hinder part of belly, flanks and thighs rusty blackish grey, faintly
shaded with green. Lesser wing coverts, and secondary quill coverts bright
lavender-purple, in certain lights changing to shining blue or purple;
primary quill coverts, brownish red; bastard wings deep purplish green.
Primary and secondary quill-feathers, bright crimson red, broadly tipt with
a light purplish brown and narrowly edged with dark metallic green ; the termination
of the crimson is separated from the purplish brown by a light
yellowish brown line. The extent of the crimson is less upon the outer than
upon the inner vanes, and is entirely wanting upon the outer vane of the
first feather ; the bases of several of the innermost secondaries deep purplish
brown; the shafts of the quill-feathers clear reddish brown; insides of
shoulders dusky blackish brown, edged externally with greenish grey. Bill,
legs, and claws, deep reddish black.
F orm , &c .—Bill naked and short, broad at the base, and compressed
towards the point; nostrils oval, nearly midway between the base and apex
of the upper mandible and nearer to the culmen than the commissure, the
latter slightly undulated. Head with a flattened and rudimentary crest of
rigid feathers, which projects but little beyond the nape. Wings large, rounded,