Jav an e se Eurylaime.
Eurylaimus Javanicus, Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 170.—lb. ZooL Res. in Java, pi. 5.—Lath. Gen.
Hist., vol. iv. p. 96.—Vig. App. to Mem. of Sir S. Raffles, p. 653.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i.
p. 175.—Ib. Traité d’Orn., p. 261|àf-Blyth, C at of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 195.—
Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 168.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 65, Eurylaimus, sp. 1.—
List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., p a rt ii. sec. 1. p. 36.—Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp.,
p. 116.
Eurylaimus Horsfieldi, Temm. PI. Coll. 130, 131.—Swains, in Jard. Nat. Lib. O ra , vol. x. Flycatchers, p. 240.
pi. 30.
Platyrhynchos horsfieldi, Vieill. Gal. des Ois., tom. i. p. 200. pi. 125.
Tamplana Lilin, Malays.
A l t h o u g h the singularly fine bird figured in the accompanying Plate—the type of Dr. Horsfield’s genus
Eurylaimus—has now been known for many years, nothing has yet been recorded respecting its habits
and economy.
The only note respecting it which has come under my observation is the one by Dr. Horsfield in the
13th volume of the Linnaean Transactions, where he remarks, “ I discovered this species in one of the
most distant and inaccessible parts of Java, covered with extensive forests, and abounding with rivers and
marshes.”
Independently of Java, it is now known to inhabit the great island of Borneo on the one side, and the
Malayan peninsula, from Singapore to Tenasserim, on the other; future research will probably inform us
that it enjoys a still further range.
Among the specimens at the East India House is an immature one from Tenasserim, presented by
Mr. Heifer, which exhibits a state of plumage quite different from that of the adults: it is described
below.
Fully adult individuals also differ, some being entirely destitute of the black pectoral band. This conspicuous
band is doubtless a sexual characteristic; in all probability the specimens in which it is wanting
are females.
“ The colouring of the head and neck,” says Mr. Swainson, “ is very peculiar, and is so mixed and
blended as not to admit of an easy definition.
“ The top and sides of the head are of a chestnut black, graduating into a shade of cinereous on the
nape, and of vinaceous red on the ears and sides of the throat; this changes to dark brown on the lower
part of thl neck above and then into deep black, which is the ground colour of the remaining upper
plumage;” down the centre of the back a series of yellow feathers narrowly edged with black; upper tail-
coverts largely tipped with yellow; lengthened scapularies yellow with black bases; edges of the shoulders
and the under wing-coverts yellow; wings black, the feathers of the secondaries with a lengthened mark of
yellow along their outer web near the tip, forming a broad band when the wing is closed; at the base of
the primaries a mark of yellowish white; tail black, the outer feather on each side crossed near the tip hy
abroad band of sulphur-white; the next four on each side with a large spot of yellowish white on the inner
side near the tip, decreasing in siae as the feathers approach the two middle ones, which are entirely black;
throat vinous red, bounded below by a narrow line of black, posterior to which is a wash of olive; under
s u r f a c e d a r k vinaceous blood-red; thighs black ; under tail-coverts dull vinaceous yellow; bill apparently
deep bluish green. • ,
In the young bird above referred to, the general colour is vinous brown, becoming paler on the head anu
under surface; all the feathers, particularly those of the back, wings and tail-coverts, conspicuously streaked
with yellow.
The Plate represents a male, a female, and the young of the size of life.