_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
GNATHODON STRIGIROSTRIS, _Jard._
Gnathodon.
_Gnathodon strigirostris_, Jard. in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol.
xvi. p. 175. pl. ix.
The researches of modern zoologists have not perhaps brought to light a
more curious object than the bird here represented, a single specimen of
which is in the collection of Sir William Jardine, Bart., to whose
kindness and liberality I am indebted for permission to include a
drawing of it in the present work. I regret to say that no intelligence
whatever could be obtained as to its habits, or the precise locality of
which it is a native; it was purchased by Lady Harvey at a sale in
Edinburgh, where the other objects sold at the same time were all
Australian, and mostly peculiar to the south-eastern coast of that
country; hence I have been induced to include a figure of it in the
present work for which I feel that no apology is required, as the Plate
cannot fail to be viewed with interest by all ornithologists, and will
probably induce residents in the country to investigate the history of
so remarkable a species. While we know so little as we do respecting it,
every ornithologist must form his own opinion as to the place it should
occupy in the natural system; and these opinions will doubtless be very
various; the contour of the bill, the form and position of the nostrils
are different from those of any other species with which we are
acquainted, and although pertaining to so much smaller a bird strongly
remind one of the celebrated Dodo; the form of the body and wings and
the structure of the feathers differ but slightly from those of the
_Columbidæ_, to which family it is, in my opinion, most nearly allied;
for although at a first glance its strongly hooked upper and deeply
notched under mandible would seem to indicate a sanguinary disposition,
and that its food consists of animal substances, I am inclined to
believe that it is frugivorous or granivorous, and that the remarkably
formed bill is expressly adapted to denude palm-nuts or other strongly
coated seeds of their hard outer covering; the maxillæ are very wide,
and the nakedness of the throat would indicate that the gullet is
capable of sufficient dilatation to admit of the passage of articles of
food of considerable size.
The probably unique specimen from which my figure is taken is very
perfect, with the exception of the scales of the front of the tarsi,
which are unfortunately wanting; I am consequently left in doubt as to
whether the legs as far as the knees, if not the upper part of the
tarsi, have or have not been clothed with feathers.
The first description of this species was published by Sir William
Jardine in the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History,’ above referred
to, wherein he states that “we are indebted to Lady Harvey, whose
extensive collection of natural history in Edinburgh is always open when
science can be promoted, for a specimen of this remarkable bird;” and
adds, “we are aware of no existing description, though there is one
allusion made to a bird which may eventually turn out to be this. In Mr.
Strickland’s Report on the Recent Progress and Present State of
Ornithology, read before the British Association at York, it is stated,
‘The recent American voyage of discovery will extend our knowledge of
Polynesian zoology, and its researches will be made known by Mr. Titian
Peale, who is said to have discovered among other rarities a new bird
allied to the Dodo, which he proposes to name _Didunculus_;’ and we
believe ‘_strigirostris_’ has been applied specifically.”
The structure of the wing indicates that its powers of flight are
considerable.
Lores and a small patch on each side of the throat bare and apparently
red; head, neck, breast and belly glossy greenish black; feathers of the
upper part of the back black, with a crescent-shaped mark of glossy
green at the tip of each feather; back, wings, tail and under
tail-coverts rich deep chestnut-red; primaries and secondaries greyish
black; bill orange; tarsi and feet apparently reddish flesh-colour.
The figures represent the bird in two positions of the natural size.
[Illustration: