TESTA CASTANEOCORONATA.

Chestnut-crowned Tesia.

Sylvia castaneo-coronata, Burton in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part III. p. 152.

Tesia castaneo-coronata, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xiv. p. 586.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc.
Calcutta, p. 179.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 156. pl. 47. fig. 1, Testa, sp. 3.—Bonap.
Consp. Gen. Av., p. 257, Tesia, sp. 2.—Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 179.

Tesia flaviventer, Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. vi. p. 102.

Oligura flaviventer, Hodgs. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIII. p. 25.

 

Tus species is even more diminutive than the Testa cyaneiventer, yet it has a somewhat longer tail; dimi-
nutive, however, as it is, it plays its part in the economy of nature in the countries it is destined to inhabit
—Sikkim and Nepal, where every variety of animal life is to be found, from the huge Rhinoceros to the
little bird forming the subject of the accompanying Plate, each of which has its own province to fulfil, and
each being equally worthy of the attention and admiration of the naturalist.

“These singular birds,” says Mr. Hodgson, speaking of both species of Tésia, “are peculiar to the
mountains, and dwell in moist woods where there is plenty of underwood ; they are solitary, silent, live and
breed on the ground, and feed on seeds, gravel, and insects ; the stomach is thick, almost a gizzard.”

Like the 7. cyanewventer, the T. castaneocoronata is rarely found in our collections; its diminutive size
and the remoteness of the localities it frequents doubtless rendering it difficult of acquisition. Nearly all
the examples that have been received in Europe were collected by B. H. Hodgson, Ksq., a gentleman, than
whom no one has added more largely to the stores of our museums, and whose researches are worthy of
being recorded among those who have rendered themselves most eminent for their devotion to the study of
natural history.

Crown and sides of the head chestnut-red; upper surface, wings and tail dark olive; under surface
yellow, brightest on the chin; bill brown above, yellow below; feet flesh-colour.

The figures are of the natural size.

    
  
      
   
   
    
  
    

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