3. DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW AND VERY BEAUTIFUL SPECIES OF BIRDS, FROM GUATEMALA AND FROM THE ISLAND OF LOMBOCK. BY JOHN GOULD, ESQ., F.R.S., V.P.Z.S. ETC.
(Aves, Pl. CXXIII.)
COTINGA AMABILIS. (Pl. CXXIII.)
Male. Head, lores, line beneath the eye, all the upper surface, lesser wing-coverts, upper tail-coverts, sides of the chest, band across the breast, flanks, vent and under tail-coverts fine verditer blue; wings dull black, the greater coverts, spurious wing and the secondaries margined with verditer blue; tail dull black, margined externally with dull verditer blue; chin, throat and centre of the abdomen very rich purple.
Female. Upper surface greenish-brown, each feather tipped with greyish-white; under surface greyish-white, with dark brown centres to the feathers of the breast, upper part of the abdomen, and flanks; vent and under tail-coverts dull white.
Total length, 8 inches; bill, ¾; wing, 4½; tail, 2¾; tarsus, 7/8.
Hab. Guatemala.
Remark.—The Cotinga amabilis forms one of the most beautiful
members of this lovely genus of birds, and affords the first instance of a species being discovered to the northward of the Isthmus of Panama. It is allied to Cotinga cincta and C. Maynana; the chest being crossed by a band as in the former, which it also resembles in the black colouring of the under surface of the wing, while it assimilates to the latter in the peculiar tint of the verditer blue of the upper surface and flanks.
For a knowledge of this lovely species we are indebted to the researches of George Ure Skinner, Esq., than whom no one has done more towards making us acquainted with the rich ornithological and botanical treasures of the fine country to which this bird belongs.
HALCYON FULGIDUS.
Head, cheeks, back of the neck, back, wings, flanks and under tail-coverts deep black, washed with rich ultramarine blue on the back of the neck, back and wings; rump-feathers glaucous or chalky white, with black bases, and with a narrow line of blue between the black and the white portion, which alone is seen; tail deep ultramarine blue; chin, breast, and abdomen white; bill and feet coral-red.
Total length, 12½ inches; bill, 2¼; wing, 5¼; tail, 5; tarsus, ¾.
Hab. The Island of Lombock.
Remark.—This is an exceedingly fine species; of which I have not been able to find a description. I am therefore induced to believe that it is new: still it may be contained in the Leyden Collection; but on this point I have consulted Mr. Frank, who is well acquainted with its rich stores, and he tells me that he has no recollection of it.
PITTA CONCINNA.
Head, back of the neck, cheeks, chin and stripe down the centre of the throat velvety black; from the nostrils over each eye a broad mark of deep buff, posterior to which is a narrower one of pale glaucous blue; back, tail and wings dark grass-green; lesser wing-coverts and a band across the rump glossy verditer blue; primaries and secondaries black, the fourth, fifth and sixth of the former crossed by a band of white near their base, and all the primaries tipped on the external web with olive-grey; upper tail-coverts black; under surface delicate fawn-colour, becoming much paler where it meets the black of the cheeks and throat; centre of the abdomen black; vent and under tail-coverts fine scarlet; bill black; feet fleshy.
Total length, 6 inches; bill, 1; wing, 4; tail, 1½; tarsus, 1⅜.
Hab. The Island of Lombock.
Remark.—This bird ranks as one of the smaller species of this particular section of the group, it being even less than the Pitta brachyura of authors, to which it bears a general resemblance, but from which the black colouring of its throat will at all times distinguish it.
For this and the preceding species we are indebted to the researches of A. R. Wallace, Esq.
No. CCCXXXI.—PROCEEDINGS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
