TROCHALOPTERON FORMOSUM, uv. Perr.

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Beautiful Trochalopteron.

Trochalopteron formosum, J. Verr. Nouv. Archiv. du Mus., tom. v. p. 35.—Swinh. in Proc. Zool. Soc., 1871, p. 372,

 

Tuts is another of the numerous ornithological discoveries made by the Pére Armand David in the neighbour-
hood of Moupin, in the interior of China, towards Thibet. It isa larger bird than the Zrochalopteron squamatum,
is a trifle different in colour, and has somewhat longer wings; still, I think, M. Jules Verreaux has rightly
placed it in the same genus. Mr. D. G. Elliot, who possesses one of the specimens procured by the Abbé
David, favoured me with the loan of it for the enrichment of the present work, and I thank him for his
kindness in so doing.

What is now required respecting this species is full information respecting its history, habits, and mode
of life, the kind of country frequented by it, and the difference, if any, in the plumage of the sexes, in which
latter respect, if we may judge from what we know of the other members of the genus, there will be none.

As M. Jules Verreaux has had opportunities of examining several specimens of this bird, I append his
description of the colouring instead of giving one myself :—‘ General tint olivaceous rust-colour ; head grey,
lanceolated with black ; throat and front of the neck of this last colour; a great portion of the wings and
of the upper surface of the tail blood-red; abdomen and vent olivaceous.”

Mr. Swinhoe remarks that two other species, also from Moupin, remain to be described.

The Plate represents the Z7ochalopteron formosum, of the size of life.