-A l O DK[M sST JM G M H H H d " 0 1
GNATHODON STRIGIROSTRIS, Ja rd .
Gnathodon.
IGnathodon strigibóstris, Jard. in Ann. and Mag. , of Nat. Hist.', vol. xvi. p. 175. pl. ix. .
T he researches of modern zoologists havé n^t perhaps brought to light a more curious object than the bird
here,r|presented, a single specimen o f ||||jp f jg in the collection of Sir William Jardine, Bart., to whose
kindness and liberality I am indebted for permission to include a drawing in the present work. I
regret to say that no.dntelligëncéMiatèv^ ^ l l ^ p e obtained as to its habits, or the precise locality of which
it is a native ; |§ J ^ | ^ | ^ f ^ | | ^ j L a d y . Harvey, at a sale in Edinburgh, where the other objects sold at the
same- tim^^^%A|l;A%^4]i^n,f ^d,mostly peculiar to the south-eastern coast of t j it , c&nferar • hence I have
^^m^mMeM| t ^ Mclude;a f ig u r e 'f f f if f the’ present work forwhichT^ feel' that no apology is required, as
,$l%<flat.e cannot fail to be viewe J ^ jt) i4 nterest by all ornithologists, and will prpbablymji^e residents in the
country to investigate the history of so remarkable a species. While we know sorlittie as we do respecting
fl^eyery ornithologist opinion as to the place it should occupy in the natural system$ and
these opinions will doubtless’ l^ ^ ry^yarious) the cotitour of the bill, the form and pofftijn of the nostrils
are different, from those of any other species with which we are acquainted, and although pertaining to so
much smaller a bird strongly fep^d^one of the celebrated Dodo ; the form of the body and wings and the
;«trupfm|Jof the feathers differ but slightly from those of the Columbidtj?, to which family it is, in my opinion,
mostyneadiSallieQ^ for although at a first glance its strongly hooked upper and deeply notched under mandible
would seem to indicate a sanguinary disposition, and that its food consists of animal substances, 1 am
inclined to believe that it is frugivoroiMp i^ granivorous, and that the remarkably formed bill is expressly
adapted to denude palm-nuts or other|strongly coated seeds of their-hard outer covering; the maxillae
are very wide, and fee nakedness of the throat would indicate that the gullet is capable of sufficient dilatation
to admit ofthepassage of articles, of food of considerable size.
The probably unique spvecintehH&o^wJi|h my figure is taken is very perfect, with the exception of the
scales of the front of the tarsi, ^ ^ h ta ^ e : pnfortiipately wanting; I am consequently leftm^Subt as to whether
"tlie.degs as far as the knees, i f not tlie upper part of or,-have not been clothed* with feathers.
The first description of this species was published by Sjv William Jardine in the ‘ Annals and Magazine
of Natural Hiffcgbs’ above referred to, wheréihthe^a^^^ wé^are^ddb.tedt to Lady Hai*vey, whose
extensive collection of natural his|m||||n Edinburgh is*, Always open whé&^fciencè can be promoted, for a
specimen of this remarkable bird and adds, “ we are award of no existing description, though there is one
allusion m a d e # a bird.'syiüch "may eventually turn puf to be this. In Mr. Strickland’s Report on the
Recent Progress and Present State^oP Ornithology, read before the British Association at York, it is stated,
‘ The recent American voy|gSi Of discovery will extend our knowledge of Polynesian zoology, , a p l |s researches
will be made known by Mr. Titian P|plfOvhp/is said to have discovered among newbird?
ailieddo the Dodo, which he proposes- to pame Diduncukes j’ ^ii^vyéflélféve 1 strigirosiris' has been applied
The structure of the wing indicates tKatsits powers of flight are^KUisiderable..
Lores and-a small patch on each sidexjgthetbroat bare a ^ & g j e n t ly re d ; h ^ ^ n ^ | breast and belly
glossy greenish black ; feathers of the u p p ê ^ a ^ o f-th e ^ b a c ^ a c k , with a c r e jc ^ g b a p e d mark of glossy
green at the&fp of each feather; baekV^&6\ j ^ ï and under tail-coverts riph d e e ^ |p |n u t - r e d ; primaries
and secondaries greyish black; bill orange ; R ib and feet, apparently reddish flesb^Gplpur;
The figures represent ^|vvovposi6 ons jjhp- natural si?e^ V„ v