Zoological Illustrations, Volume 1: or, Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting Animals — John Shaqi
Zoological Illustrations, Volume 1: or, Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting AnimalsSwainson, William
Science
Zoological Illustrations, Volume 1: or, Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting Animals
Swainson, William
Animals -- Pictorial works
Reverse shells, or such whose mouth when viewed in front is on the left
side, are generally held in much estimation by collectors. This deviation
from the usual form of shells is sometimes accidental, as in our common
garden Snail and several others; while in some species it appears a
constant, and therefore a specific distinction. Such I apprehend is the
case with the shell now figured, a rare and very elegant species,
apparently not noticed by any writer; two or three existing in the British
Museum and one in my father's cabinet are all the specimens I have hitherto
seen. The latter (here figured) came from Bahia in South America. The whole
shell is very finely marked with longitudinal striae, and the colouring
better seen than described: the buff tinge at the base is occasioned by the
remaining epidermis.
This shell belongs to the second division of the genus _Achatina_ as
mentioned at Plate 30, having the aperture much shorter than the spire and
the base nearly entire. _Bulla virginea_ of Linn. seems to connect the two
divisions, having the lengthened spire of one and the truncated base of the
other.
* * * * *
Pl. 37
[Illustration]
PROCNIAS cucullata.
_Hooded Berry-eater._
* * * * *
GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 21.
* * * * *
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
_P. corpore, collo, pectore nigro cucullata; tergo fusco, alis caudaque
nigris; tegminum apice, pectoris lateribus, et corpore subtus flavis;
capite subcristato._
Head, neck and fore-part of the breast hooded with black; back brown,
wings and tail black; tip of the wing-covers, sides of the breast and
body beneath yellow; head subcrested.
* * * * *
I am indebted for this new bird to Miss E. Yeates, who received it with a
few others from some part of Brazil: it seems to connect the genera of
_Ampelis_ and _Procnias_, having the bill much less dilated at the base
than any of the latter; it however has a close similitude to _Procnias
melanocephalus_ (Pl. 25.), which seems further removed from the true
Chatterers.
Total length eight inches and three quarters. Bill in extreme length near
an inch; the colour dark cinereous; the base furnished with bristles
something resembling the Chatterers: the opening of the nostrils large,
round, terminal, and nearly naked; the feathers on the crown lengthened;
the whole head, neck, and fore-part of the breast black, bordered above by
a narrow collar of yellow; back and scapulars brown, rump olive; sides of
the breast, inner covers, and under parts uniform yellow; wing-covers black
margined with olive, those on the shoulders tipt with brown, the rest with
yellow; quills and tail black margined with olive. Wings four inches and
three-quarters long, the first quill very short, the third longer than the
second. Tail four inches long.
* * * * *
Pl. 38
[Illustration]
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