释义 |
picathartes Ornith.|pɪkəˈθɑːtiːz| [mod.L. (R. P. Lesson Manuel d'Ornithologie (1828) I. 374), f. L. pīca magpie + Cathartes, generic name of certain American vultures, f. Gr. καθαρτής cleanser (f. καθαίρειν to cleanse.).] A bare-headed West African bird of the genus so called, belonging to the babbler family or Timaliidæ; also called the bald crow or rock-fowl.
1931Discovery May 140/1 Looking at this bird, named misleadingly the white-necked bald crow, one's mind instinctively reverts to prehistoric times, for..the Picathartes is a most extraordinary looking object. 1938Ibis II. 255 An investigation of the stomach-contents of the rare West African bird Picathartes reveals the fact that insect fragments predominate. 1960G. Durrell Zoo in Luggage ii. 57 The Picathartes was about the size of a jackdaw, but its body had the plump, sleek lines of a blackbird. 1972Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 30 July 27/3 The picathartes, a rare bald-headed bird..will fetch {pstlg}100. |