Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 56



This is perhaps the rarest, and certainly the most extraordinary bird, which the recent Zoological researches in India has brought to light. Its discovery is due to a young and accomplished Naturalist of France—M. Duvaucel, now alas! no more: but who lived to perpetuate his name by his brilliant discoveries, and to enrich the French Museum with the most splendid specimens of oriential Zoology now in Europe.

The form, habit, and wings of this charming bird, are almost precisely those of Prionites; while the bill resembles that of Merops. Nothing can exceed the beauty of its lilach crown, or the bright vermillion of its throat. The bill is strong, and marked above on each sides with a sulcated line: the gape is so wide, as to reach underneath the eye. The whole structure of the bird, its round wings, and long lax plumage, indicates a totally different economy from that of Merops; and this has been confirmed by Sir W. Jardine and Mr. Selby, who inform us that another beautiful species, they have described, feeds during the night.

Our drawing, scrupulously exact, was made at the Jardin des Plants. As we find Nyctinomus is a name already appropriated, we have substituted Nyctiornis: and we place this group at the extremity of the Fissirostres, adjoining to Prionites among the Scansores.

Total length ab. 13, wings 5¼, tail (beyond,) 3, tarsi hardly ½ in.