543. Ampeliceps coronatus.
The Gold-crest Myna,
Ampeliceps coronatus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xi, p. 194 (1842); id. Cat. p. 108; Horsf. & M. Cat. ii, p. 625; Hume, N. & B. p. 436; Armstrong & Hume, S. F. iv, p. 335; Hume & Dav. S. F. vi, p. 398 ; Hume, Cat. no. 693 ter; Inglis, S. F. ix, p. 256; Oates, B. B. i, p. 395; Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. (2) v, p. 615 ; Hume, S. F. xi, p. 269; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii, p. 116; Oates in Hume's N. & E. 2nd ed. i, p. 374.
Coloration. Forehead, crown, chin, and throat bright yellow; with this exception, the whole plumage is glossy black; the first six primaries with a patch of white on the inner webs, and the second to the seventh primaries with a yellow patch on the outer webs; in counting these, the first or bastard primary, which is very minute, is not taken into consideration.
The young appear to have the head entirely black.
Bill pale orange, turning to blue at the gape ; mouth livid ; iris dark brown ; ophthalmic skin yellow tinged with orange ; legs dull orange; claws dark horn.
Length 8.5; tail 2.4 ; wing 5; tarsus 1 ; bill from gape 1.1.
Many birds of this species are met with having the lores and a portion of the cheeks black. These, according to Sharpe, are females. I find, however, that birds exhibiting this character have also black streaks on the throat and crown, and the conclusion I draw is that these birds are immature and in a state of transition from the plumage of the young to that of the adult.
Distribution. Cachar; Manipur ; Toungngoo ; Lower Pegu ; Tenasserim from Moulmein to Tavoy. This species extends into Cochin China.
Habits, &c. Davison found the nest of this bird containing three young near Tavoy in April in a deep hole of a tree.
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