Genus CROSSODERA.

CHARACTERES GENERICI

Ut in Eurylaimo, at forma graciliore, rostro angustiore et compressiusculo, alis brevioribus ; caudd elongata, et gradatd.

EURYLAIMUS (cCROSSODER4A DALHOUSLA, James.
Frillnecked Eurylaimus.

Cross. capite nigro, notd in vertice, alterd in occipite, et tertia in mediis alis, splendidé et metallicé ceeruleis, penicilld,
elongata, et flavescenti-viridi, ad utrumque latus occipitis ; facie lined flavescenti-viridi cinctd ; fimbrid plumosd
flava albd marginatd a gutture tendente, collumque cingente ; corpore intense-viridi, alarum primartis nigrescenti-
fuscis, rectricibus caude intermediis viridi lavatis ; rostro nigrescentt-olivaceo, culmine marginibusque flavis tarsis
brunnescenti-olwaceis.

Long. tot. 10 unc.; rostri, 14; ale, 34; caude, 5+; tarsi, 1.

A large patch on the crown of the head, another on the occiput, and a third on the centre of the wing of fine
metallic blue; the remainder of the head black, with the exception of a lengthened tuft on each side of the
occiput of a yellowish green; a belt of feathers surrounds the face of greenish yellow; a full frill of yellow
feathers edged with white extends from the throat and surrounds the neck ; general plumage of the body
fine deep green; quills blackish brown; two centre tail-feathers slightly washed with blue; bill blackish
olive with the culmen and edges yellow; tarsi olive brown.

Eurylaimus Dalhousie, Jameson, in Edin. New Phil. Journ. vol. xviii. p. 389.
—____________—— Royle, IIL of the Botany, &c. of the Himalaya Mountains, pl. 6.

 

In the first volume of the Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, I published figures and a descrip-
tion of a new species of Eurylaimus, under the specific appellation of /vnatus, and gave a detailed account by
way of Synopsis of all the species then on record: since that period the present very beautiful species has
been made known to us. The first specimen was brought home by the Countess of Dalhousie, and was soon
after dedicated to that lady by Professor Jameson, a figure also from the drawing of a native artist has been
published in Mr. Royle’s Illustrations of the Botany, &c., of the Himalaya Mountains above quoted.

We have had opportunities of examining several specimens, all of which were from those elevated and pro-
ductive regions the Himalaya Mountains.

It is unquestionably the most splendid species of the genus, and differs from all its congeners not only in
the more brilliant colouring of its plumage, great elegance of its form, but its larger size, and in its
lengthened and graduated tail. It possesses a beautiful frill of silky feathers, which nearly surrounds the
neck ; two tufts also spring from above each eye, which from the more lengthened form of these feathers
give the bird the appearance of having horns. These differences from the type of the genus have induced
me to assign this bird provisionally as the type of a new genus, which I have named Crossodera, the value of
which will however depend upon future observations, and upon other specimens possessing similar characters
being discovered.

Nothing whatever is known of the habits and manners of this species, but insects and berries doubtless
constitute its natural food.

Habitat. The Himalaya and Nepaul.

The figure is of the natural size.