Vag a7

x

SND ACCS a Kea er CO

iC

1S

\C

 

IBIDORHYNCHA STRUTHERSIL Vig.

Red-billed Krolia.

Ibidorhyncha Struthersii, Vig. in Proc. of Comm. of Sci. and Corr.
of Birds, pl. lxxix.
Red-billed Erolia, Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. iy. p. 458.
or Gorgeted Chlorhynx, Hodgs. Ib. pl. liv. low. fig.
Chlorhynchus Strophiatus, Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. iv. p. 701.

Ibidorhynchus Struthersii, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. p. 568.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat Soc
Calcutta, p. 265. ; 5 . :

of Zool. Soe. part i. p. 174.—Gould, Century

 

Tue present curious bird was one of the novelties I had the good fortune to make known to science in my
“Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains,” on reference to which it will be found that I therein
remarked, that ‘throughout the whole of our new discoveries in the vast district which has furnished the
subject of the present work, it would be difficult to point out a more interesting species than that before
us, or one which has supplied ornithological science with characters more striking and peculiar; as it
forms a union between two groups generally considered as widely separated from each other; the body,
the general form and the legs of the [idorhyncha Struthersii being similar to those of the members of the
genus Hematopus, while the bill is strictly that of an Jbis. I was not so fortunate as to receive a specimen
of this bird; and it is to the kindness of Dr. Scouler, of the Andersonian Museum of Glasgow, who received
it from Mr. Struthers, the gentleman who collected it, and whose name forms its specific appellation, that
I was indebted for the opportunity of figuring it. Its habits and manners yet remain to be discovered and
recorded.”

It is very much to be regretted that even now, after a lapse of five-and-twenty years, no account has been
received of the habits and economy of this singular form. That its habitat is somewhat restricted is
rendered pretty certain from the unfrequent occurrence of specimens in Indian collections. The southern
slopes of the Himalayas from Nepaul to our western frontier are probably the only parts of the country it
frequents ; at least it is from there only that I have received examples.

Mr. Hodgson, writing in August 1835, says, ‘‘ The only specimen I have been able to procure was shot
on the banks of a sandy stream in the valley of Nepaul in October last ; and it was a mere passenger here,
like the majority of the grallatorial and natatorial birds which visit us, and which make only a stage of our
valley on their way from the plains of Tartary to those of India and back again.

“Weight ten ounces. The intestines are twenty inches long, larger above than below, tough, frequently
semi-convolved or doubled, siphon-wise, and at three inches from the anal end ey have two en oo nealy
two inches in length. The stomach is small, but very muscular and gizzard-like, and ee oe Oo ie
consists chiefly of minute univalve mollusca which it picks up on thesoney margins of rivers and streams.
In such sites it is usually found; nor does it appear to be gregarious. ; «he chee eee

Considerable difference is observable in the breadth of the black band which crosses the chest; as also in

. : sale i in certain individuals, is reddish
the colouring ef the face, which in some specimens is greyish ; the bill too, in certain ind ;

: ( hus characterized may probably be females or young
horn-colour instead of bright coral-red; the examples thus character yp y
male birds which have not yet assumed their full plumage.

oa separ i he black of the
Forehead top of the head, lores and throat black ; neck pale cmereous, separated ae a
back and wings ashy grey; across the breast, extending

a conspicuous streak of white ; =
Meee tice by a conspic h and the grey of the neck is a narrower band of

upwards towards the back, a band of black, between whic Fe black putea etme
white ; under surface white ; tail grey, irregularly barred with brownis 3 iicer are alah ae

2 c G e ., als ; ’
white regularly barred with brownish black ; these feathers and the next two or thr I

brownish black ; bill coral-red ; feet red.

: eee ; in the distance.
The Plate represents the bird of the natural size, with a smaller figure in