HARPACTES KASUMBA.

Kasumba Trogon.

Trogon Kasumba, Raffi. in Linn. Trans. vol. xiii. p. 282.

fasciatus, Temm. Pl. Col. 321.—Less. Traité d’Orn. p: Loe

Temmincku, Gould, Mon. of Trog. pl. 29.

—_—— flagrans, Kuhl, Tydsch. Nat. Gesch. 1835, p- 336.

Harpactes Kasumba, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 80.

Temmincku, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. xi. p. 337,—Gray, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. part ii i

p. 44. —Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 71, Harpactes, s ieee ea
De 7le

Kasumba, of the Sumatrans.

 

 

p. 4, and vol. iii. App. p. 4. App. to

 

Great confusion respecting the name of this species has existed from the days of the lamented Raffles to
the present time, and instead of its being cleared up, it would seem to have been added to by every writer
who has had occasion to mention the bird; I myself, among others, have fallen into error én: he subject ;
and even Mr. Blyth, after enumerating it under the name of Aasumba in his “ Catalogue of the Birds in the
Museum of the Asiatic Society of Calcutta,” states in an appendix that perhaps that name ought to give
place to that of Aondea, which name, I may remark, would seem not to be a scientific appellation, but merely

a trivial one applied to specimens in the Paris Museum. It will be seen that I have retained that of

Kasumba, which 1 think it likely was the one first assigned to it.

The countries inhabited by this species are Malacca, Sumatra, and Borneo, from all of which I have
specimens in my own collection.

In a letter lately received from Mr. Wallace, now (1856) engaged in exploring the Islands of the Indian
Archipelago, that gentleman, writing from Singapore, says, “‘ You will think I have forgotten to write to you
about the Trogons, but I have not neglected the subject. I remained two months on this island, where the
jungle is now only to be found in small patches, but did not meet with any, and I doubt if there be a Trogon
in the island. At Malacca, however, from whence I have just returned, I met with them. I think there
are four species, but as I only obtained males of three, I cannot be certain. Two are of an ordinary size, and
two are smaller. One of the larger I take to be Harpactes Kasumba: 1 send youa coloured sketch of the
soft parts that you may make a correct drawing for your work. The habits and economy of the Indian
Trogons assimilate closely to those of the American.”

As nothing can exceed the beauty of this noble bird, the appearance the males must present in their

native forests cannot fail to be attractive in the extreme, especially when the rich scarlet colouring of their

breasts is contrasted with the equally brilliant green of the luxuriant vegetation of Malacca.

The sexes present a marked difference in the colouring of their plumage, as will be seen on reference to
the opposite Plate, where they are accurately depicted.

I believe that the habits of the Harpactes Kasumba are somew
the secluded parts of the forests which are its favourite place of resort.

The male has the head, throat and chest jet-black ; breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts deep rose-red,

separated from the black of the chest by a crescentic band of white ; ; -
the neck a narrow band of red; back and upper tail-coverts yellowish brown ; wings black, the coverts
and tertiaries transversely rayed with fine irregular lines of white,
the base; two middle tail-feathers chestnut-brown, tipped with :
black, the remainder black at the base, and white for the rest a their
violet-blue, becoming of a more fleshy hue near the eyes ; bill blue ;
brown; feet brown. ;
The female differs in having the head and throat greyish
the breast being much less conspicuous, the under surface ane ee
bolder, and of a sandy hue, instead of pure white ; In other respects she

less brilliant.
The Plate represents the two sexes

hat solitary, and that the bird seldom quits

and the shafts of the primaries white at
black ; the two rest on each side wholly
length, with dark shafts ; orbits light
gape light violet-blue; irides dark

brown instead of black ; in the white band on

brown; and the markings of the wings

is very similar, but the colours are

of the size of life.

from below the eye round the back of

TT (NAAN LAT TIMaeyeenayTTH nN

= & & G WB

 

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