CYMBIRHYNCHUS MACRORHYNCHUS.
Great-billed Eurylaime.

Todus macrorhynchus, Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 446.

Todus nasutus, Lath. Ind. Orn., tom. 1. p. 268.

Cymbirhynchus nasutus, Vigors’s App. to Mem. of Sir S. Raffles, p. 654.—Swains. in Jard. Nat. Lib., vol. x. Fly
catchers, p. 237, pl. 29.—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., 1846, p- ae ay a a : ' a
As. Soc. Calcutta, p. 195.—G. R. Gray, List of Birds a Brit. Mus. Coll. a i . 1 : o ane

Eurylaimus lemniscatus, Raffi. Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 296. a

Eurylaimus nasutus, Temm. Pl. Col. 154.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 175.

Platyrhinchus ornatus, Desm. Hist. Nat. des Tangaras, &c.

Erolla nasica, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 260.

Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 66.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 169.

Great-billed Tody, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 664, pl. 30.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 94, pl. lxv.—Shaw’s Gen.
Zool., vol. vill. p. 122.

 

Tus beautiful species was probably the first of the Eurylaimine sent to Europe; for although apparently
unknown to Linneus, it was described by Gmelin towards the end of the last century ; subsequently Latham
and Shaw may be enumerated among the older writers who have noticed it; when the Leverian Museum
was in existence the specimen contained therein was supposed to be unique; and such is the recorded
history of a species of which specimens are now to be found in every Maseum. From its singular structure
and rich colouring few of the birds of Tropical India are more conspicuous and interesting than the
Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchus. ts range extends over the rich country of Sumatra, the Malayan Peninsula
and Malacca, few collections being sent from the latter country which do not contain examples; and Mr.
Blyth states that it is also found in the more northern country of Tenasserim, specimens from whence, pro-
e the collection at the East India Company’s House in Leadenhall Street. Sir T.

cured by Mr. Helfer, grac
of Sumatra, frequenting the banks of rivers and

Stamford Raffles states that it “‘is found in the interior
lakes, and feeding on insects and worms. It builds its nest pendent from the branch of a tree or bush
which overhangs the water, and is said to lay only two eggs.”

Mr. Blyth says it “is common in Tenasserim, in watery situations, and suspends its nearly elobular nest,
s of trees growing directly out of the water. The eggs

which is constructed of small twigs, from the branche
former fading

are four in number, and pale spotless blue. The beak and eyes are very beautiful blue, the
within a day or two after death.”

I am indebted to the Honourable E
drawing of the soft parts of this specie
upon; the bill is there represented of
instead of being blue, is of the richest deep grass-green.
death, and that the colouring of the pills and legs of the specimens W
different from those of the living birds; in most instances the upper mandible :
the under one is inclined to blood-red ; in other examples both mandibles are of a uniform dark hue; in all

H ints according 2 season < he age of the bird.

probability the richly coloured bill assumes different tints according to the season and the ag |

Head upper surface, w cross the breast deep black, obscurely glossed with
| , , . aq > Trerte
se band across the throat, ear-coverts, all the under surface, rump and upper tail-coverts
d project on the sides below the ear-coverts, where
-coverts straw-yellow ;
the longest narrowly ec

ast India Company for permission to take notes from a well-executed
s, which having been made in India, may, I presume, be depended
a beautiful blue, as stated by Mr. Blyth; but the full round eye,
It is said that these hues fade immediately after
hich reach this country is altogether

s have become black, while

ings, tail, chin and a band a
green; transver
deep crimson ; the feathers of the throat are rigid an
they are slightly fringed with pearly white ; under wing
edge of the shoulder ; lengthened lanceolate scapularies white,
their posterior webs; the three lateral tail-feathers on each side have

white near the tip of their inner web.
The Plate represents two birds of, I believe,
that little or no difference occurs In their plumage.

a line of orange along the
Jeed with white on

the opposite sexes ; if this opinion be correct, it will be seen

an obliquely placed oblong spot of