MEGALfcMA CORVINA
M E G A L M A CORVINA.
( T H E C R O W - B I L L E D B A R B E T .)
(1820) Ilcinw.; Batav. Cour. p.
(1840) G. It. Gray; Gen. of Birds, II. p. 429.
(1854) Bonup.; Consp. Vol. Zyg. p. 12.
Bucco corvinus .
Megalaima corvina
Megalcema corvina
M. sexibus similibus: major: viridis : gutture brunneo. occipite brunneo aurantiaco suffuso.
Uab. in insula " Java " dicta.
Sexes alike; body green, of large size; lores dark brown, forehead light earthy-brown
with a yellow metallic tinge (in some specimens the light colour extends back over the top
of the head); head and neck dark earthy-brown, each feather edged with yellow, more so
on the upper back and shoulders, where the yellow, brown, and green are mixed together
and form an irregular collar with a golden tinge; the upper plumage is rich dark green,
quills brown, inner webs pale yellowish at base, t h e exterior web of the primaries edged
with green, the secondaries more broadly edged, the innermost ones being almost entirely
green; sides of the face, chin, throat, and upper breast dark umber-brown with a golden
metallic tinge; under surface brilliant grass-green; iris reddish olive; bill and feet black,
bill lead-colour at base (Wallace). Length 12".
Uab. West Java only (W i l l a c e ).
The Crow-billed Barbet is confined strictly to t h e island of Java, and appears to replace
in the west the Black-breasted Barbet (M. javensis), which is peculiar to the eastern part.
I t is one of the largest species of Barbets, and quite unlike the others in colouring; the
golden tinge on the brown of the face, throat, and neck, and the conspicuous absence of
blue and scarlet on the head, are the most noticeable points. Goffin has confused this
Additional references.—Bucco corvinus: Temminck (1833), PI. Col. No. 522 ; Hartlaub (1841), Rev. Zool. p. 337;
Lord Waldcn (1866), P. Z. S. p. 240. Megalaima corvina: Goffin (1863), Cat. Mus. Pays-Bas, Bucc. p. 30 ; G. R.
Gray (1S68), Cat. Brit. Mus. Capit. p. 12.