The SUMATRAN TROWEL-BEAK (_Corydon Sumatranus_), a species of the above
family inhabiting Sumatra and Borneo, represents a group recognisable by
their compact and falcon-like body; short, broad beak, the upper mandible
of which almost entirely encloses the lower one; and also by their bare,
short, strong feet, armed with long toes; short rounded wings, in which
the third or fourth quill exceeds the rest in length; and moderate-sized
tail, formed of twelve rounded feathers. The dusky plumage, which is
soft and thick, is replaced in the region of the beak by a few short
bristles; its colour is principally of a pale black; the entire throat
pale brownish yellow; the centre of the back bright red; the wings are
black, with a few white spots; the tail-feathers pale black, the centre
pair of uniform hue, the rest marked with white towards the tip. The eye
is brown, the beak and a bare place round the eye are bright red; the
foot is blackish brown. This species is nine inches and a half long; the
wing measures four, and the tail three inches and a half; the beak is one
inch long, and one inch and a quarter broad at its base. We are entirely
without particulars as to the life and habits of this bird, except that it
frequents moist and shady woods in the vicinity of water, and associates
in small parties.
[Illustration: THE JAVA BROAD-THROAT (_Eurylaimus Javanicus_).]
* * * * *
The TRUE BROAD-THROATS (_Eurylaimus_) are recognisable from the above
group by the formation of their beak, which is longer and flatter than
that of the last-mentioned species.