HESPERIPHONA ICTERIOIDES.
Icterine Grosbeak.

Coccothraustes Icterioides, Vig. in Proce. of Comm. of Sci. and Corr. Zool. Soc., part i. p. 8.—Gould, Century of Birds,
pl. 45.—Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq.,
p. 105.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 125.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds,
vol. il. p. 358, Coccothraustes, sp. 4.—Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xii. pt. 11, p. 950. pl. fig. 5.

Hesperiphona icteroides, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 505.

 

Wuen this species was described by the late Mr. Vigors in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society for
1831, examples were so rarely to be met with, that those from which his characters were taken were almost
the only ones known; since that period its native habitat having been more frequently visited by Europeans,
specimens are now to be seen in every collection. It may be regarded as one of the most beautiful
members of its family, and one in every way worthy of introduction to our aviaries: I believe it to be
strictly confined to the hilly districts of Upper India, and more especially to the north-eastern portion of
the Himalayas, wherever thick woods, in which it loves to dwell, occur. Its habits, like those of the other
members of the genus, are shy and retiring, and like them, it feeds upon the smaller stone fruits so abundant
in the localities it frequents.

In the male, the head, neck, wings, tail and thighs are black; the remainder of the plumage rich yellow ;
bill pea-green, passing into yellow on the edges of the mandibles; feet flesh-colour.

The young male has the head and neck grey; the upper surface olive-green ; under surface olive-yellow ;
the primaries and tail black.

The female has the head and general plumage grey, passing into buff on the rump, the upper and the
under tail-coverts ; primaries and tail dull black, with the exception of the two middle tail-feathers, which
are greyish.

The Plate represents an adult male, a young male, and a female of the natural size.