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TROPIDORHYNCHUS ARGENTICEPS, Gouid.
Silvery-crowned Friar-bird.
Tropidorhynchus argenticeps, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. 1839, p. 144.
F ob the first knowledge of this new species of Tropidorhynchus, science is indebted to Benjamin Bynoe, Esq.,
Surgeon o f Her Majesty’s Surveying ship the Beagle, who, on my visiting Sydney, placed, his specimens at
my disposal; since my return, other examples have been sent for my use, in this work, by His Excellency
Captain Grey, now Governor of South Australia.
Mr. Bynoe’s specimens were all obtained during the survey of the north-west coast, a portion o f Australia
the natural productions of which are but little known, and Captain Grey’s during his expedition into the
interior, from the same coast.
In size the Silvery-crowned Friar-bird is somewhat inferior to the common species ( Tropidorhynchus
corniculatus) , from which it may also be readily distinguished by the crown o f the head being clothed with
well-defined, small, lanceolate feathers. Of its habits and economy nothing is known; but as it is very nearly
allied to the last-mentioned species, we may reasonably conclude that they are very similar.
Crown of the head silvery grey; the remainder of the head naked, and of a blackish brown; throat and
all the under surface white; back, wings and tail brown; bill and feet blackish brown.
The figure is o f the natural size.