COCHOA PURPUREA, Hodgs.
Purple Cochoa.
Cochoa purpurea, Hodgs. in Joum. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. v. p. 359 ; vol. xii. part 1. p. 450, with a plate.—Blyth,
Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 195.—Gray, Cat. of Spec, and Draw, of Mamm. and Birds
presented by B. H. Hodgson, Esq. to Brit. Mus., p.,96.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 280,
Cochoa, sp. 2.
Prosorinia (Cochoa) purpurea, Hodgs., Gray, Zool. Misc., p. 84, 577.
Prosorinia ( Cochoa) Hodgsonii ? Blyth in Joum. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. pt. 1. p. 182.
A l tho u g h this species is still rarely seen in the cabinets o f Europe, it appears, from the numerous examples
that have come under my notice, to be much more common than the Cochoa viridis; like that species, it was
first discovered by Mr. Hodgson in Nepaul; several examples were also contained in the collections made
by Mr. Grace and Captain Boys; I have seen others from Bhotan and Sikim, and it is said to be common
at Darjeeling; whereby we learn th at it enjoys a tolerably wide range over the regions of Upper India.
The Cochoa purpurea is very nearly allied to, but is readily distinguished from, the C. viridis by the
general hue of its plumage, which has obtained for it the specific appellation of purpurea; its habits, actions,
places of resort, food, and mode of nidification, are so similar to those of the preceding species, that an
account of the one is equally descriptive o f the other.
The sexes of the C. viridis are stated by Mr. Hodgson to be alike, while in the present species a marked
difference is observable, the female being brown where the male is purple.
“ Male dark purple; cheeks black; crest, tail, and upper apert portion of the wings, soft grey-blue
more or less purpurascent; lower p art of the wings and tip of tail black, and both black internally; a
white speculum on the wing, ju st below the false wing; bill and legs black; iris brown.
“ Female brown where the male is pu rp le; and the upper p art of the wings also brown.
“ Young rufous below with black b a rs ; brown above with rufescent white d ro p s; head blue as in
maturity, but barred/’’
The Plate represents the two sexes o f the natural size.