EUjEOTLÄIMUJS fCM OS SODEH A / BAILHO US IÆ». fJcm&son).
Genus CROSSODERA.
C h a r a c t e r e s G e n e r i c i
Ut in Eurylaimo, at formâ graciliore, rostro angustiare et compressiusculo, alis brevioribus ; caudâ ehngatâ, et gradatâ.
EURYLAIMUS (CROSSODERA) DALHOUSÏÆ, J ames.
Frillnecked Eurylaimus.
Cross, capite nigro, notA in vertice, alterd in occipite, et tertiu in mediis alis, splendidi et metallice cceruleis, penicillA,
elongatA, et flavescenti-viridi, ad utrumque latus occipitis; facie lineA Jlavescenti-viridi cinctA; fimbriA plumosA
flavA albA marginatA a gutture tendente, collumque cingente; corpore intense-viridi, alarum primariis nigrescenti-
fuscis, rectricxbus cauda intermediis viridi lavatis; rostro nigrescenti-olivaceo, culmine marginibusque flavis tar sis
brunnescentirolivaceis.
Long. tot. 10 unc. ; rostri, 1-4; alee, 34-; caudee, ; tarsi, 1.
A large patch on the crown of the head, another on the occiput, and a third on the centre of the wing of fine
metallic blue; the remainder of the head black, with the exception of a lengthened tuft on each side of the
occiput of a yellowish green; a belt of feathers surrounds the face of greenish yellow; a full frill of yellow
feathers edged with white extends from the throat and surrounds the n eck ; general plumage of the body
fine deep g reen ; quills blackish brown; two centre tail-feathers slightly washed with blue; bill blackish
olive with the cuhnen and edges yellow; tarsi olive brown.
Eurylaimus Dalhousia, Jameson, in Edin. New Phil. Joum. vol. xviii. p. 389.
- r-~-— - •. - Royle, 111. of the Botany, &c. of the Himalaya Mountains, pi. 6.
I n the first volume o f the Transactions o f the Zoological Society o f London, I published figures and a description
o f a new species o f Eurylaimus, under.the specific appellation o f lunatus, and gave a detailed account by
way o f Synopsis o f all the species then on reco rd : since th at period the present very beautiful species has
been made known to us. The first specimen was brought home by the Countess ofDalhousie, and was soon
after dedicated to that lady by Professor Jameson, a figure also from the drawing o f a native artist has been
published in Mr. Royle’s Illustrations o f the Botany, &c., o f the Himalaya Mountains above quoted.
We have had opportunities o f examining several specimens, all o f which were from those elevated and productive
regions the Himalaya Mountains.
I t is unquestionably the most splendid species o f the genus, and differs from all its congeners not only in
the more brilliant colouring o f its plumage, great elegance o f its form, but its larger size, and in its
lengthened and graduated tail. I t possesses a beautiful frill o f silky feathers, which nearly surrounds the
neck ; two tufts also spring from above each eye, which from the more lengthened form o f these feathers-
give the bird the appearance o f having horns. These differences from the type o f the genus have induced
me to assign this bird provisionally as the type o f a new genus, which I have named Crossodera, the value of
which will however depend upon future observations, and upon other specimens possessing similar characters
being discovered.
Nothing whatever is known o f the habits and manners o f this species, but insects and berries doubtless
constitute its natural food.
Habitat. The Himalaya and Nepaul.
The figure is o f the natural size.