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THE

BIRDS OF ASTA

Ne

JOHN GOULD, ERS,

F.LS., V.P. AND F.Z.S., M.E.S., F.R.GEOGRS., M.RAY S., CORR. MEMB. OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF TURIN; OF THE SOC. OF THE MUSEUM
OF NAT. HIST. OF STRASBURG ; FOR. MEMB. OF THE NAT. HIST. SOC. OF NURNBERG, AND OF THE IMP, NAT. HIST. SOC. OF MOSCOW ;
HON. MEMB. OF THE NAT. HIST. SOC. OF DARMSTADT; OF THE NAT. HIST. AND THE NAT, HIST. AND MED. SOCS. OF
DRESDEN ; OF THE ROY. SOC. OF TASMANIA ; OF THE ROY. ZOOL. SOC. OF IRELAND ; OF THE PENZANCE
NAT. HIST. SOC.; OF THE WORCESTER NAT, HIST. SOC. ; OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND,
DURHAM, AND NEWCASTLE NAT, HIST. SOC. ; OF THE IPSWICH MUSEUM; OF
THE ORN. SOC. OF GERMANY ; OF THE DORSET COUNTY MUSEUM AND
LIBRARY ; OF THE ROYAL UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION, ETC.

 

DEDICATED TO THE HONOURABLE EAST INDIA COMPANY.

 

 

IN SEVEN VOLUMES.

 

VOLUME III.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 26 CHARLOTTE STREET, BEDFORD SQUARE.

1850—1883.

 
 

 
LIST OF PLATES.

 

VOLUME III.

 

Norr.—As the arrangement of the Plates in the course of publication was impracticable, the Numbers here given will refer to them

13.
14.
Ld,
16.
i
Ts.
1g.
20.

Oo bo om

-

CS CON 19) 1D tO 8O 8 ID we
a S. CO A Ch Or S

a2.

when arranged, and the Plates may be quoted by them.

Turdus fuscatus

> Lulicollis

ow (Gould)
Merula unicolor

. castanea

albocincta .

| BoOUlboul
Petrocincla erythrogastra
Spizixos canifrons .

‘ semitorques
Ixus sinensis .
Hypsipetes nigerrima
Phyllornis Javensis

‘ Hardwicki

s Hodgsoni

i Malabaricus .
si Jerdoni .

- cyanopogon

Irena cyanea .
» eriliger
>» puella..
» cyanogastra .
», melanochlamys
Copsychus saularis
Mindanensis
: suavis .

Clouded Thrush
Red-throated Thrush
Gould’s Thrush

Affghan Thrush
Chestnut-coloured Merula

White-collared Merula

Grey-winged Merula
Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush .
Crested Spizixos

Chinese Spizixos

Chinese Bulbul

Formosan Hypsipetes

Javanese Phyllornis .

Hardwick’s Phyllornis

Hodgson’s Phyllornis
Malabar Phyllornis .

. Jerdon’s Phyllornis .

. All-green Phyllornis

Myiophoneus (Arrenga) Blighi

insularis
Callene albiventris .
Leioptila annectens
Conostoma emodium
Sibia melanoleuca .

Malayan Fairy Bluebird
Bornean Fairy Bluebird
Indian Fairy Bluebird
Blue-mantled Fairy Bluebird
Black-mantled Fairy Bluebird .
Dial Bird
Malaccan Dial Bird .
Chestnut-bellied Dial Bird
Bligh’s Whistling Thrush
Formosan Whistling Thrush
White-bellied Callene

Slender-billed Chat-Thrush

Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis .
Xiphoramphus superciliaris
Trochalopteron phceniceum

formosum
affine

virgatum
Blyth .
elhotii

variegatum
cineraceum

melanostigma.

a)
lanthocincla ocellata

Himalayan Conostoma
Black-and-white Sibia
Red-kneed Pomatorhinus .
Scimitar-bill :
Crimson-winged Trochalopteron
Beautiful Trochalopteron .
Allied Thrush .

Variegated Thrush .

Cinereous Trochalopteron
White-eyebrowed Trochalopteron
Blyth’s Laughing Thrush
Elhot’s Trochalopteron
Tickell’s Laughing ‘Thrush
Ocellated Ianthocincla

Part

IY
XX.
X.
el,

93

DON
XVELE
XVIII.
XXXVI.

XVI.
eT

XXXII.

SOOTY,
XXXITI.

XXVIII.
XVI.

XX.
OO,

Vi.
XXXII.
XV
IX.
XXIV.

XXVIII.

ove
XXyE
Oe
SH

Date.
November 1852.
March 1873.
June 1858.

May 1859.

39 9)

” ”
June 1863.
April 1866.

9° 9
August 1874.
April 1864.

May 1861.
9 »
29 39
ed 9)

» »

99 33
July 1880.

99 99
January 1883.
February 1882.
June 1863.

» 9
July 1876.
April 1864.

3 bSOS:
January 1883.
October 1853.
February 1882.
April 1864.
May 1857.
March 1872.

29 22.
July 1876.

39 99
March 1875.

re »
August 1874.
March 1873.
February 1882.
March 1873.

 
~
ao
QO

—~
—

I
bo

we

lantheeincla Artemisiz
lunulata
Austent

9”)
”

Garrulax Delesserti
gularis
ruficeps
peecilorhyncha
galbanus
picticollis

chinensis

Pterorhinus Davidi

Actinodura Egertoni

Nipalensis

Waldent

. Ramsayl

Rimator malacoptilus

Drymochares stellatus

Turdinulus Roberti

99

”

Turdinus brevicaudatus .

Yuhina diademata .
Pellorneum palustre
Alcippe brunnea
Cutia Nipalensis
Suthora brunnea
munipurensis
Nipalensis
fulvifrons .
Webbiana
Paradoxornis Austen
Heudei

3°
flavirostris

hist OF PLATE =

Allied Ianthocincla
Lunulated lanthocincla
Austen’s Ianthocincla
Delessert’s Garrulax :
Yellow-throated Garrulax
Red-crowned Garrulax
Black-and-yellow-billed Garrulax
Black-chinned Garrulax
Grey-banded Laughing Thrush
Chinese Garrulax

Pére David’s Pterorhinus .
Egerton’s Actinodura
Nepalese Actinodura
Walden’s Actinodura
Ramsay’s Bee-wing .
Long-billed Wren

Stellated Shortwing .
Roberts’s Pygmy Babbler
Short-tailed Turdinus
White-naped Yuhin .
Marsh Pellorneum

Brown Alcippe

Nepaul Cutia

Anderson’s Suthora .
Munipur Suthora
White-faced Suthora
Fulvous-fronted Suthora
Webb’s Suthora

Austen’s Paradoxornis
Pere Heude’s Paradoxornis

Paradoxornis

PART

wXY

a

XVI.

9

XV
XXXVI.
RAN,
x,
KV IIT.

xa VIE
KX XT.
XXII.
XXI.
AXA.
DALY:

99

399

XVI.
Vidl.
XM ILL.
XXIX.
by.

99

as

DATE.
March 1873.
5 1”
9 ”
May 1867.
» ”
April 1864.
os a
March 1875.
August 1874.
May 1873.
March 1871.
April 1866.
March 1875.
February 1882.
March 1870.
April 1869.
January 1882.-
March 1872.

April 1864.
May 1856.
July 1876.
April 1877.
November 1852.

August 1874.

29 99

Juiy 1854.

on

-
74.
5
7
i

Long-tailed Paradoxornis .
Grey-crowned Paradoxornis
Red-headed Paradoxornis

unicolor

~~
we
.

gularis

=
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ruficeps

 

 
 

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TURDUS FUSCATUS, Paii.

Clouded Thrush.

Turdus fuscatus, Pall. Zoog., tom. i. p. 451. pl. xii.

dubius, Naum. Vog. Nacht., Edit. i. Add. p. 22. pl. 4. f. 8. tom. ii. pe 288. pl. 68: fies. Ib & 2

Naumannt, Temm. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 170; tom. iii. p. 96.— Brehm, Vog. Deutsch., p. 391.—Naum.
Vog. Nacht., 2nd Edit. tom. xiii. pl. 358. figs. 2 & 3 (according to M. Middendorff).—Gould, Birds
of Europe, vol. ii. pl. 79.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p- 219, Turdus, sp. 19.—Cat. of Spec.
and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 80.—Temm. et
Schlegel, Fauna Japonica, p. 61.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. p. 270, Turdus, sp. 6.

eunomus, ‘Yemm. Pl. Col., 514.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 270, Turdus, Sp: 7.

 

 

 

 

Tue present bird is very widely dispersed over Siberia, the northern parts of China, and the island of Japan ;
solitary individuals have been taken in various parts of Germany, and from its wandering habits it is very
probable that its range will not be confined within these limits, and that it will some day or other be
included in the list of the Fauna of the British Islands. As is the case with many others of the Russo-
Asiatic birds, much confusion exists with respect to its synonymy; some writers being of opinion that the
Turdus dubius of Naumann and the Turdus dubius of Bechstein both have reference to it; but M. Temminck
distinctly states that the latter name has been given to one of the stages of plumage of Turdus atrogularis ;
and in order to prevent any confusion arising from the ambiguous term dubius, he has given it the name
of Maumanni, by which it is now generally known ; it is certain, however, that the bird was discovered by
Pallas in the last century, and accurately described by him in his ‘ Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica’ under the
name of Turdus fuscatus, a term which, in justice to this great traveller and naturalist, I have felt it only
right to retain.

“*"To judge from the great number of specimens killed in Japan by the Dutch naturalists,” say MM. Tem-
minck and Schlegel in their recently published and valuable ‘Fauna Japonica,’ “this bird appears to be
very abundant in that country; Pallas states that he met with it in the alpine forests of Dauuria, that it
has been observed by Gmelin and Messerschmidt on the borders of the rivers Selinga, Tongooska and
Jenisséi, and that Bellings and Merk brought skins from Kamtschatka and the neighbouring islands. Besides
a specimen taken at Anhalt K6then, Naumann mentions many others killed in Silesia and in the neigh-
bourhood of Vienna; but its appearance in Europe can only be considered accidental.” Mr. Hodgson
states that this species is very rare in the Himalayas, and that examples have been collected at Chusan by
Dr. Playfair.

The male has the head and upper surface very dark brown, each feather broadly margined with pale
greyish brown, with a tinge of red next the darker colour ; wing-coverts, secondaries and primaries very
dark brown, broadly margined externally with rufous, passing’ into greyish brown at the tip ; under surface
of the wing rufous ; a broad stripe over the eye; cheeks, chin and throat buffy white ; lores and ear-coverts
brownish black ; feathers of the flanks brownish black edged with greyish white, the grey margins becoming
larger and more conspicuous as the feathers proceed towards the vent ; abdomen white ; under tail-coverts
dark reddish brown largely margined with white; tail very dark brown, edged externally at the base with
rufous ; bill olive-yellow, passing into black at the tip; feet dark flesh-colour.

The female is similar in colour to the male, except that the superciliary stripe and the throat are more
buff, that on each side of the throat there is a series of small, nearly triangular black marks, and that the
colouring of the throat and flanks gradually blends instead of being separated by a distinct line of
demarcation.

The Plate represents both sexes of the natural size.

 
 

 
 

 
 

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TURDUS RUFICOLLIS, Paw.

Red-throated Thrush.

Turdus ruficollis, Pall. Reise, tom. iii. p. 694.—Ib. Zoog., tom. i. p. 452. tab. 23.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 333.
—Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 815.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 219, Turdus,
sp. 20.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 273, Turdus, sp. 37.—Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and
Birds presented to the Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 81.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat.
Soc. Calcutta, p. 141.—Hodgs. in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xvi. p. 143.

Red-necked Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. iii. p. 31.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 278.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. v.
p27.

Turdus erythrura, Hodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Misc., p. 83 ?

 

I nave the pleasure of figuring on the accompanying Plate another of the little-known birds discovered and
described by Pallas. ‘The specimens from which the drawing was taken were lent to me by Dr. Hartlaub,
and the other Directors of the Museum at Bremen, who had received them from St. Petersburg. I mention
this because some differences are found between the Russian specimens and those from the highlands of
northern India, the latter being of a larger size, having the rufous colouring of the throat and breast much
darker, approaching in fact to chestnut; many of them also have a series of dark spots running down
each side of the throat, and the outer tail-feathers slightly margined with blackish brown. It has been
hinted by some ornithologists, and asserted by others, that the Zurdus ruficollis and T. atrogularis are one
and the same species; and I must say, that on examining the specimens in the British Museum, I was half
inclined to consider them identical myself. In the size of the bill, in the length of the wings and tail, and
in the colouring of the crown of the head and back, they are precisely alike; but these points of agreement
are insufficient to prove that these two birds, so very oppositely coloured in every other respect, are one
and the same; and Mr. Hodgson, who has had ample opportunities for observation in the Himalayas, re-
marks, that 7° ruficolhs is “‘ nearly allied to 7. atrogularis, but differs in having the neck, breast, supercilium,
fore part of the under surface of the wing, and the tail, except at the tip, rufous.” In the Bremen specimens
I find no trace of the streak of darker feathers on the sides of the neck, the colouring of which is much
lighter or of a more sandy red than in the Indian birds, and, as before stated, they are also of a smaller size.
The Russian specimens of 7°. a¢rogularis are also smaller than individuals killed in the Himalayas, and I have
never seen a specimen of this latter species with any other than uniform blackish brown tail-feathers ; if I
had, I should have become a convert to the opinion of those who consider the two birds to constitute but a
single species.

The following notes respecting this species, kindly transmitted to me by M. Middendorff, of St. Peters-
burg, will be read with interest :—

“T first met with small flocks of this bird during the second week in April, near the River Aldan in
south-eastern Siberia, at about 603° north latitude. They were mingled with and passing through flocks of
Turdus fuscatus. About the end of April they began to couple. They frequented the densest branches
of the coniferous and other trees, and while perched on the tops of the lofty larches the males gave utterance
to sweet songs which recalled to my memory the melody of our Zurdus musicus. Upon proceeding still
farther into the country in a south-eastern direction, I lost sight of this interesting bird, and it is to be pre-
sumed that it does not occur on the eastern slope of the Stanowoj range.”

Pallas states that he frequently observed it m the lofty larch-forests of Dauuria, especially in the neigh-
bourhood of the River ‘‘ Condam,” passing in vast flocks to its winter-quarters, to which hunger compelled it
to proceed through the snow-storms. At other times it dwells in the densest and most remote solitudes
of the forest.

Head, all the upper surface and wings greyish brown ; lores, superciliary stripe and throat light chestnut ;
breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts white; two central tail-feathers brown ; lateral tail-feathers rufous,
becoming browner towards their margins ; bill olive-yellow, passing into black at the tip; feet flesh-colour.

The figures are of the natural size.

 
 

 
 

 

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TURDUS GOULDL J. Verr.
Gould’s Thrush.

Merula Gouldii, J. Verr. Nouv. Archiv. du Mus., tom. vi. Bull. p. 34, & tom. vii., Bull. p. 32.—David, ibid.,
tom. vit, Bull p. 6.

 

Tue French savant, M. Jules Verreaux, having named this Thrush after. myself, I should be wanting in
courtesy were I not to acknowledge that I duly appreciate the compliment he thereby intended to convey,
although the bird is an inhabitant of some of the distant provinces of Thibet, a country too far off for me
ever to see, and where my name will probably never be heard.

It is difficult to distinguish generically the differences between the genera Turdus and Merula. Structurally
the Tbrush and the Blackbird are very much alike; yet, to say nothing of the differences in the colouring of
the sexes of the latter, how different are they in their plumage, their habits, and their economies!  Ulti-
mately, I have no doubt, ornithologists will deem it necessary to give more definite characters to each of
those genera than have yet been assigned to them, and will in all probability separate the other members
of the family still further than at present. This Thibetan bird and several allied species will then hold an
intermediate station between Zurdus and Merula. To me the bird is certainly not a true Merula; neither
do I consider it to be so closely allied to the 1. castanea of the Himalayas as, it will be seen, M, Verreaux
is inclined to believe.

The Turdus Gould is another of the many interesting discoveries made by the Abbe Armand David ; and
all that is known respecting it is embodied in the following extract from the seventh volume of the ‘ Nouvelles
Archives du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris,’ which I have taken the liberty of transcribing. The
description and remarks are by M. Jules Verreaux.

‘«¢ Head and neck a dark earth-brown, paler from the chin to the upper part of the chest ; the whole of
the body chestnut-red, somewhat darker on the under surface ; wings and tail black ; under tail-coverts black,
with white centres and tips; irides brown; beak yellow.

‘The female differs in the head being tinted with grey, which becomes lighter on the neck; the red of
the body is also lighter ; and the black of the wings and tail is not only paler but tinged with red ; it is the
same with the under tail-coverts, where the white of the tips and edges of each feather is strongly
tinted with red.

 

«Three examples—namely, a male, an adult female, and an immature female—were killed at Moupin on
the 24th of June, 11th of March, and the Ist of November, 1869.

«¢ The difference which exists between this species and the Merula castanea of Gould, from the continent
of India, is recognizable at a single glance, if it be only by the pale grey head and white neck shown in the
drawing of that author in his ‘ Birds of Asia.’ We are happy, then, to give the name of our clever colleague
to a species which offers so great an analogy with that which he was the first to describe, and which several
modern authors have placed in the genus Geocichla, but according to Mr. Jerdon (whom we have
recently seen, and whom all the world looks upon as the highest authority of our times in all matters
relating to Indian ornithology) is not a true Meruda in its manners. The Abbé David, who discovered this
beautiful species in the forests of the large mountains of Moupin and other Thibetan principalities, tells us
that its habits and voice are precisely similar to those of the true Thrush, but that its ordinary cry is weaker
and more shrill than that of the Blackbird; it frequents the most solitary woods, where it is not rare, and
whence the cold causes it to descend into the valleys in great numbers, especially at the commencement
of winter.”

The accompanying Plate represents, of the size of life, a male specimen kindly lent to me by Mr. Elliot.

 
 

 
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MERULA UNICOLO R, Gould.
Affgehan "Thrush.

Turdus unicolor, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 136.

— = t ray and Mitch. Gen, of Binds, vol i, p. 220, Vad, ne. 113:

 

Tue Merula unicolor is evidently a rare species in those districts of India which have been visited by the
collector, for Mr. Blyth does not include it in his ‘ List of the Birds in the Museum of the Asiatic Society
at Calcutta,” and there is no example of it in the Museum of the Honourable East India Company ; it was
also absent from the British Museum until the Trustees obtained the original of my description on the dis-
persion of the Zoological Society’s mounted collection. The preservation of this typical specimen has enabled
me to verify the species by comparison with two other examples now before me, one of which I obtained
from the late Captain Boys, and another which forms part of the collection made by Dr. A. Leith Adams, of
the 22nd Regiment, and who procured it in Cashmere; here, then, we have a positively ascertained locality
in which the bird is to be found; a point of importance, since neither Captain Boys’ nor the original type
is labelled with the name of the place in which it was killed.

It seems that, forgetful of having named this species wnicolor twenty-one years ago, I have more recently
proposed another name for it, that of schistaceus; I believe and hope, however, that it has not appeared in
print. The term unzcolor originally applied to it is not an inappropriate one when the wings of the bird are
closed, or when it is viewed from above; but if the wings are raised, the axillaries will be found to be strongly
tinted with orange, as shown in the smaller figure, which is given in order that the species may be more
readily recognized. In one of the specimens there is also some white on the lower part of the abdomen and
on the under tail-coverts. The following brief note has been furnished by Dr. Adams, and, I regret to say,
is all that is known respecting the species.

‘This bird appears to be confined to the Cashmerian and surrounding ranges; it is very plentiful in the
valley. Its habits very much resemble those of the Zurdus musicus. Its song, which is composed ofa
few but little-varied notes, is often repeated. Considerable variety occurs in the colouring of the plumage,
some individuals being darker than others. The sexes differ in the male being destitute of spots on the
neck and throat.”

General plumage ash-grey, lighter beneath; middle of the abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts white ;
axillaries and under wing-coverts orange-red.

Dr. Adams states that ‘the female has the bill and the margins of the eyelids pale yellow; the throat
obscurely spotted with black ; the breast and under surface ashy white ; and the legs pale yellow.”

The Plate represents the bird the size of life.

 
 

 
 

 

 

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MERULA CASTANBA, Goud.

Chestnut-coloured Merula.

Merula castanea, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. part iii. p. 185.—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. xvi. p. 149.—
Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 162.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus.
East Ind. Comp. vol. i. p. 197.

Turdus castaneus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 219. pl. 56.—Gray, Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm.
and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 81.

Geocichla castanea, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 268.

Turdus rubrocanus, Hodgs. Gray’s Zool. Misc. 1844, p. 82.

 

Tus very fine species of Merula I had the pleasure of characterizing in the “ Proceedings of the Zoological
Society” for the year 1835 ; nine years later, in 1844, it received from Mr. Hodgson the name of rubrocanus.
In the rich chestnut colouring of its back and under surface, this species stands conspicuously alone among
the members of the Indian MWerulde. It is a bird of considerable dimensions, and is doubtless bold and
spirited in its actions when seen in its native woods. Its true habitat is the sub-Himalayan range, along the
face of which it appears to extend from Nepal to Afghanistan: most of the specimens sent to this country
are from Darjiling ; but there are examples at the East India House which are said to have been procured
by Mr. Pearson in Afghanistan ; personally, however, I have never seen one from the latter country.

The sexes present the usual difference in colour and size, the female being somewhat smaller than the
male, and her colouring much less bright and contrasted; her wings also are brown instead of black, the
chestnut colour of her back and under surface paler, and the band on the neck less clearly defined.

The male has the head, cheeks, and nape ashy grey; at the back of the neck a broad semi-collar of light
greyish brown ; throat and fore part of the chest buffy white ; all the upper and under surface chestnut-red,
deepest on the upper part of the back; wings and tail blackish brown; feathers of the lower part of the
abdomen and under tail-coverts blackish brown, with a broad stripe of white down the centre of each; the
bill, eyelash, and feet appear to have been fine yellow.

The Plate represents both sexes of the natural size.

 
 

 
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MERULA ALBOCINCTA.
White-collared Merula.

Turdus albocinctus et albicollis, Royle, Ill. Himalayan Bot., tab. 8. fig. 3.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i.
p. 219.—Gray, Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds pres. to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson,
Esq., p. 81.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 274.

Merula albocincta, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xvi. p. 148.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta,
p- 162.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 197.

Turdus collaris, Sorel, Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 2.

Merula nivicolis, Hodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Misc. 1844, p. 83.

 

Tue late Dr. Forbes Royle, who by his writings on botany and natural history and many other acquirements
distinguished himself as one of the most valuable of the servants of the Honourable East India Company,
had the pleasure of first naming this interesting Ouzel, Thrush, or Blackbird—whichever British ornithologists
may think proper to apply to it as a trivial name. Dr. Royle (for what reason cannot now be known) gave
it two distinctive appellations, Turdus albocinctus and T. albicollis; it is also the Merula nivicollis of Mr.
Hodgson, and the Zurdus collaris of Sorel; all these specific names are equally applicable to it; but it is
to be regretted that our systems should have been burdened with four appellations where one would surely
have been sufficient.

It must, I think, be admitted that the present bird and MZ. castanea are two most intimately allied species,
so much so that it has almost induced me to believe that they are identical; and I throw out this hint to
direct the attention of ornithologists to the point, especially those resident in India, rather than aver that
such is the case. Jn their relative admeasurements the two birds are as nearly alike as possible.

Like the MW. castanea, the M. albocincta is a native of Nepal and the more western parts of the Himalayan
range, but does not ascend either to the cold region of the snow-line, nor, I believe, descend to the hot
forests of the Terai.

The female has all the markings of the male, but her colouring is much less bright and defined; the
crown of her head, her back, wings, and tail are brown, while the collar and throat are brownish white.

The male has the head, cheeks, nape, the entire plumage of the upper and under surface, the wings and
tail brownish black; throat buffy white slightly striated with brown ; lower part of the neck and breast buffy
white; round the back of the neck a collar of buffy white stained with brownish grey posteriorly ; bill and
eyelash orange-yellow ; the legs appear to have been the same, but duller.

The Plate represents both sexes of the natural size.

 
 
 

 

 
 

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MERULA BOULBOUL.

Grey-winged Merula.

Lanius boulboul, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. 80.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 48.—-Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. vii. p. 308.

Merula boulboul, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xvi. p. 47.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc Calcutta,
p. 162.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 196.

Turdus pecilopterus, Vig. in Proc. of Comm. of Sci. and Corr. of Zool. Soc., part i. p. 54.—Gould, Cent. of Birds
from Him. Mount., pl. xiv.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p- 219.—Gray, Cat. of Spec. and
Draw. of Mamm. and Birds pres. to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 81.—Bonap. Consp.
Gen. Av. p. 274.

 

Ir is much to be regretted that this well-marked species of Merula should have received not only the trivial,
but also the scientific name of doudboul, since, to British ornithologists, another and very different group of
birds is better known by this appellation; but it now appears that Latham’s specific term of doulboul has
the priority over the peciopterus of Vigors, and no alteration is admissible. It is one of the species figured
by me in my ‘Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains.” A splendid male is now, and has been
for a long time, living in the menagerie of the Zoological Society in the Regent’s Park. This individual has
all the habits of the English Blackbird, bears its confinement equally well, and as spring approaches serenades
its caged brethren and the visitors with its cheerful song. After it has completed its moult, the feathers of
the breast, which are most perfect, are regularly and elegantly fringed with grey, in which character it
much resembles the Ring Ouzel, Merula torquata; it differs, however, from that species in its shorter
wings, in which respect it is allied to our Common Blackbird, the Merula vulgaris, which it may be said
to represent in the hill countries of India, that is, the southern slopes of the great Himalayan range, where
it frequents similar districts to those tenanted by the WZ. albocincta and M. castanea.

Much difference occurs in the colouring of the wings, some individuals having the secondaries and coverts
very light, almost approaching to greyish white, while in others those parts are greyish white, strongly
tinged with brown. This wing-mark is much less distinct in the female, which sex, moreover, differs from
the opposite one in being of an almost uniform brown, offering a strong contrast to the deep black colour-
ing of the male.

The male has the entire plumage black, with the exception of the feathers of the breast and abdomen
being finely fringed with grey, and the greater wing-coverts and the outer webs of the secondaries being
ashy grey, with purer grey tips; bill and eyelash very rich gamboge-yellow; irides brownish black ; legs
and feet brownish black, with a tinge of yellow behind and on the soles.

The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Rudus bifforus.

 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

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PETROCINCLA ERY THROGASTRA.

Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush.

Turdus erythrogaster, Vig. in Proc. of Comm. of Sci. and Corr. of Zool. Soc., part 1, p. 171.—Gould, Cent. of Birds,
pl. 13.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 219.—Gray, Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm.
and Birds pres. to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 81.

Petrocincla erythrogastra, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. pp. 189, 461; vol. xil. p. 929; vol. xvi. p. 149.
—Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 164.—-Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus.
Kast Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 185.

—___—___— ¥rupwentris, Jard. and Selby, Ill Orn, vol. mi. pl. 129.

Orocetes erythrogaster, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 298.

 

erythrogastra, Jerd. Birds of India, vol. i. p. 514.
Petrocossyphus ferrugineoventris, Less.

Ningri-pho, Lepch (Jerdon).

 

Every particular relating to the history and economy of this species of Rock-Thrush appears to be as much
unknown or buried in obscurity as it was when I published my ‘ Century of Birds from the Himalaya Moun-
tains,’ thirty-three years ago; even Mr. Jerdon merely states that “This Thrush has hitherto, I believe,
only been found in the Himalayas, generally at a considerable elevation. It is not rare about Darjeeling,
frequenting high forest, feeding on the ground on various insects, and, when disturbed, taking refuge in

a)

high trees.” Mr. Jerdon adds in a note, that he had lately shot it on the Khasia Hills.

The male has the crown of the head, nape, lesser wing-coverts, rump, and upper tail-coverts light blue ;
back dull dark blue, with a crescent of black near the tip of each feather; greater wing-coverts, primaries,
and secondaries dull black, washed with dark blue on the basal portions of their outer webs; the last row
of lesser wing-coverts tipped with brownish white, forming a faint line across the wing; tail dull black,
glossed with dark blue on the two centre feathers and the outer webs of the remainder; lores, ear-coverts,
and sides of the neck black; throat dark blue, each feather tipped with lighter blue; under surface of the
body, under tail-coverts, and thighs deep chestnut ; irides brownish black; bill and legs black.

The female is ashy brown above, with darker edgings to some of the feathers; lores, ear-coverts, and
sides of the neck mottled with fulvous and brown; under surface fulvous, with a crescent of dark brown at
the tip of each feather.

The young, like the members of the Saxcolne, is beautifully spangled all over with spots of buff on a
dark ground, the former being the hue of the centres, and the latter that of the margins of the feathers of
the upper and under surface and the lesser wing-coverts, while the greater coverts and secondaries are blue,
margined with deep buff at the tip, and the upper tail-coverts are rich red, tipped with dark brown.

It will be seen that I have figured a young male in this particular dress, and an adult male, both of the
size of life, with a female on a reduced scale in the distance.

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 

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SPIZIXOS CANIFRONS, Bytz.

Crested Spizixos.

Spizixos canifrons, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., xiv. p. 571.—Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiatic Soc. Calcutta,
p- 339.

 

Tue large group of Insessorial birds inhabiting India and the neighbouring countries, known under the
trivial name of Bulbuls, comprises several genera, among them, Hemixos, Alcurus, Ivos, Keelartia, Rubigula,
Brachypodius, Otocompsa, Pycnonotus, and Spizivos. Some of these curious birds are crested, others are
adorned with tufts of feathers springing from the sides of the face; some are distinguished by fine colours
on the throat or elsewhere, while others are plainly attired. Generally speaking the sexes are alike, and I
believe they all live exclusively on insects.

The two species known of the present form, of which the bird here represented is the type, differ from
the other members of the family in their bills being shorter, more obtuse, and somewhat assimilating to the
form of that organ in the members of the genus 4mpelis—a modification in structure which is doubtless
accompanied by some especial peculiarity in their general economy and mode of life at present unknown
to us. But few specimens of the Spizivos canifrons have as yet been sent to Europe, and it is here figured
for the first time. The following notes of its colouring and the country it inhabits are extracted from the
fourteenth volume of the ‘Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,’ and as they are from the pen of
Mr. Blyth we may be certain are correct. |

‘General colour bright olive-green, becoming yellowish green and more vivid on the rump and margins
of the primaries, and inclining also to yellow on the abdomen and more decidedly on the lower tail-coverts ;
forehead and chin pale ashy; nape, sides, and front of the neck somewhat darker, and passing into blackish
on the throat ; crown black, the feathers lengthened to a crest nearly an inch high ; tail-feathers largely
tipped with blackish ; bill yellow; legs brown.

“* Habitat. Cherra Poonjee, or the hill ranges bordering on Sylhet to the northward.”

One of the two figures on the accompanying Plate represents the bird of the natural size, the other is
somewhat reduced. The plant is the Zhibaudia macrantha.

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

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SPIZIXOS SEMITORQUES, Swine.

Chinese Spizixos.

Spizivos semitorques, Swinh. in Ibis, 1861, p. 266; and Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1863, pp. 278, 334.

 

SciENCE is indebted to Mr. Swinhoe for the discovery of this second species of Spizixvos, the Chinese or
eastern representative of the more western S. canifrons of Sylhet, from which it differs in having the crest
but slightly developed, and in some parts of its colouring. These differences are noted in the following
extract from the ‘Ibis’ for 1861, which comprises all that Mr. Swinhoe has recorded respecting this new bird.

‘*A common species on the Pehling plateau, where it frequents the bushes, and appears to be substituted
for the Pycnonotus occipitalis of the plains below. Mr. Blyth considers it a typical Spizivos, and says it
differs from his S. canifrons by its black forehead, want of crest, the greater extent of black on the throat,
&c.; but that, except in the head and neck, there is hardly any difference.” In the ‘Proceedings of the
Zoological Society’ for 1863 he says it is ‘a resident species in the high plateau near Foochow. I have
also procured it from the mountain-ranges of Formosa. Sexes alike.”

As is the case with the S. canifrons, examples of the S. semitorgues are rarely to be met with in the col-
lections of Europe ; fine specimens may, however, be seen in that at the British Museum and in Mr. Swinhoe’s
possession.

To say that this bird has not been figured before would be incorrect, for, although it has not appeared in
any ornithological work, I have seen it very fairly represented in Chinese drawings ; we may therefore infer
that it is a familiar object with the native artists of the Celestial Empire. Of its habits, food, and general
economy nothing has been recorded; which is the more to be regretted, inasmuch as the singular form of
the bill would seem to indicate that they are characterized by some peculiarities.

Head black, passing into blackish grey on the occiput and hinder part of the neck; a white patch on each
side of the forehead and at the base of the lower mandible; cheeks streaked with white, which accumulating
form a patch on each side of the nape, and advancing to the front of the neck, where they become mingled
with dark grey, form a half-collar ; upper surface, breast, and flanks olive-green; inner webs and shafts of
the primaries rich brown ; the remainder of the wing yellowish olive-green, with an edging of bright greenish
yellow ; tail olive-green, with a black band at the tip, and the shafts and edges of the inner webs brown;
under surface bright greenish yellow; irides brown ; bill pale yellow ; legs and claws pale liver-brown.

The figures are of the natural size, or, if at all different, perhaps a trifle smaller.

The plant is the Zhdadiantha dubia.

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

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IXUS SINENSIS.
Chinese Bulbul.

Le Gobe-mouche verddtre de la Chine, Sonn. Voy. Ind. Orient., ii. p. 197.

Wreathed Flycatcher, Lath. Gen. Syl, i. pe. Lm dau:

Muscicapa sinensis, Gm. 8S. N., i. p. 942.

Turdus occipitalis, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 410.—Eydoux et Souleyet, Mag. de Zool. (1836), Oiseaux, pl. 66.

Pycnonotus sinensis, Blyth, J. A. S. B., xiv. p. 569.—Id. Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B., p. 210.—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B.
Mus. E. I. Co., i. p. 246.

———_—— occipiials, Gray, Gen. B., i. p. 237.—Swinh. Ibis, 1861, p. 39.

Ixus sinensis, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., i. p. 266.—Swinh, P. Z. S., 1871, p. 369.

 

Ir I had wished to select one of the commonest Chinese birds I probably could not have chosen a fitter
subject for my Plate than the present species; but, notwithstanding that it is one which has been more
than once figured, I cannot resist the opportunity of giving an illustration of the nest and young birds,
with which Mr. Swinhoe has kindly furnished me; for although the species has been known for a long
time (ever since the time of Sonnerat) we have only lately become thoroughly acquainted with its
manners and economy.

In his last list of Chinese birds Mr. Swinhoe gives the habitat as follows :—‘ Luichow to Shanghai, and
westward to Szechuen, also in Formosa. Shanghai samples are larger, with the black of the crown
somewhat obscuring the white of the occiput ; Szechuen specimens have the occiput very white, with
a pale halter mark round the neck; but both these varieties occasionally occur at Amoy.”

The best aceount of the species is that given by the Consul in ‘ The Ibis’ for 1863, p- 289 :—

‘This is the commonest of the Pycnonotide in Southern China; it is said to be also very common
in the Philippines, and in Formosa is our only species, being found in great abundance throughout all
the low country. My specimens vary chiefly in the proportions of white and black on the head. I have
one peculiar variety from Amoy. The Formosan form is essentially identical with the Chinese bird,
having no special peculiarities of its own. It is, however, a bird abundant on the coasts of both the
island and the main, and possesses no mean powers of flight; and, though usually resident in localities
where found, there could be no difficulty in supposing it occasionally to transport itself across the channel.

“These birds subsist partly on insects, and partly on berries and small wild figs. In habits they
connect the Lringille and the Muscicape, assembling, like the former, in large flocks, and flying from tree
to tree in noisy concert in search of berries, and, like the latter, pursuing insects in the air. They have
no habits in common with the skulking Garrulax, preferring rather to show themselves tame and con-
spicuous ; no creeping from bush to bush, and chattering in low and coaxing whisper, in their case; but,
perching on the tops or exposed parts of bushes and trees, they assemble and utter loud notes,—often,
when so engaged, ruffling their crests, rounding the back and tail, and making the tips of their wings
meet over their heads. Their notes are very varied, but strikingly peculiar, and I would try to syllable
them if there was any chance of conveying to the reader an idea of their natural sounds. In April they
commence nesting, but still keeping together in parties, which meet after the business of the day is over
and amuse themselves till nightfall. They mostly build three nests in the course of the season, occasionally
four, laying in the first nest usually five eggs, in the others that succeed three. In the interior the nest is
large and deep for the size of the bird; it is usually made of grasses, lined with finer samples; but in the
materials these birds are by no means particular, almost any thing they can gather, such as scraps of paper,
cotton, cloth, leaves, and feathers, beg added. In the site, too, they are not regular; any bush or tree, of
almost any height from the ground, will serve their purpose; and in the usual choice of their position they
show as little discernment as the Hedge-Sparrow (4ccentor modularis) at home, frequently placing their
nests in most exposed situations. They generally nestle in gardens close to the habitations of Chinese, and,
being familiar birds, are protected. When their nest is approached they make a great chattering; but they
have far less to fear from man than from Magpies and Garrulaces.

‘Their eggs are of a purplish-white ground-colour, spotted closely and often confusedly with dark shades
of brownish purple-grey. They measure ‘9 by °65 inch.”

An amusing story is also related by the same gentleman (Ibis, 1870, p. 254) concerning the present
species or its Hainan relative :—“ The Chinese writers of some centuries back call the Hainan Zrws by the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  

 

 

   

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HYPSIPETES NIGERRIMA, Gow.

Formosan Hypsipetes.

Hypsipetes nigerrima, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 282,
——— nigerrimus, Swinh. in Ibis, 1863, p. 287.

 

Tue only additional remark I have to make in connexion with this interesting species, beyond those given
below from the pen of Mr. Swinhoe (who enjoyed opportunities for observing the bird in a state of nature),
is that all the members of the genus LHypsipetes, of which the H. psaroides may be regarded as the type,
are denizens of Asia, and that the sexes of all of them do not exhibit any marked difference in their
colouring, neither do they vary materially in size.

‘The nearest allies of this species,” says Mr. Swinhoe, “are the H. psaroides, Vigors, from Nepaul, and
the H. ganeesa, Sykes, from Assam, both of which are of blackish-grey plumage, and both have, like it, red
bills and legs. I know no similar species from China. The only bird of this genus I have seen from the
hills of southern China is a green species (my H. Holti), very closely allied to H. Maclellandi, Horsf., from
Bootan and Nepaul. The Formosan bird is at once distinguishable from its Nepaulese cousins by its much
blacker colourmg; hence the appropriate name suggested by Mr. Gould. This species is found in all the
wooded parts of the interior mountain-range, feeding largely on berries and the small figs of the numerous
species of Jez that abound, including those of the Chinese Banyan (/. nitida). Insects, chiefly small Coleo-
ptera, also form part of its subsistence. In winter it rambles about the high country in small parties, and
may be found at all altitudes clothed with forests. In the spring these parties disperse for the purpose of
nidification, and at this season a few pairs may be found in the better-wooded portions of the low country.

‘On my trip into the interior, in the latter half of April, I observed one of these birds in an orchard com-
posed of venerable moss- and fern-covered trees. It perched on the highest twigs, and gave utterance to its
song, which consisted of notes resembling ‘ sewee-swee-swee,’ repeated loudly and in quick succession. There
was not much melody in them. When it observed me, it flew to a further tree, whence finally I shot it.

‘The Hypsipetes are longer-winged and smarter in flight than the Pycnonotide, but, as regards general
habits, are closer in their affinities to them than to any other group.

“General plumage black, shot with dark green, especially on the upper surface ; wings and tail edged with
bluish or charcoal smoke-grey; eyelid black ; irides deep chestnut ; bill and legs brilliant coral-red ; sole-
pads and bases of claws dingy ochreous ; claws black ; inside of the mouth and tongue orange-red.

‘‘In many of the specimens the feathers of the belly, axillaries, rump, and vent are margined with bluish
grey.

‘‘ The sexes are alike; but the female has somewhat shorter wing's.

‘In the young birds the plumage is much browner, and the feathers of the under parts margined and
tipped with greyish white. All my specimens were obtained in the spring of 1862; but many of them still
retain markings of the immature plumage, thereby showing that the autumnal moult is not a complete trans-
formation of the young into the mature plumage. In the adult, the wings are brownish black, the quills,
especially the secondaries, being broadly margined with bluish grey; the wing-coverts are also black, but less
distinctly margined. The tail is brownish black, all the feathers, except the outermost, being margined ex-
teriorly, for the greater part of their length, with bluish grey. The feathers of the crown are long and lan-
ceolate.”

The figures are of the size of life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

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PHYLLORNIS JAVENSIS.
Javanese Phyllornis.

Meliphaga Javensis, Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xiii. p. 152, male.

Turdus Cochinchinensis, var., Raffl. Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xiii. p. 309.

Chloropsis Sonneratii, Jard. and Selby, Ill. Orn., pl. 100, Syn. Spec. Chloropsis, vol. i. sp. 3, and Syn. Spec. Chlo-
ropsts, vol. ii. sp. 4. text to pl. 100.—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xii. p. 598, and vol. xiv.
p. 964.—Jerd. in Madr. Journ of Lit. and Sci. Vol. xi pt. ii, p. 125.

Phyllornis Sonneratii, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 213.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds,
vol. i. p. 124, Phyllornis, sp. 3.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 396, Phyllornis, sp. 6.
mullerti, Temm. Mon. of Gen. Phyllornis in Pl. Col., sp. I.

Turdus viridis, Horsf. Trans. Linn. S0e., vol, xin. p. 148, young female.

Emerald Thrush, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 90, female.

Chloropsis gampsorhynchus, Jard. and Selby, Ill. Orn., vol. i. pl. 7, Syn. Spec. Chloropsis, vol. i. sp. 4, and vol. ii.
text to pl. 100, Syn. Spec. Chloropsis, Sp. 5.
zosterops, Vig. App. to Mem. of Sir T. S. Raffles, p. 674.

Phyllornis Javensis, Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. of East Ind.Comp., vol. i. p. 260. Moore in Proc. of
Zool. Soc., part xxii. p. 280.

Chuchack-iju of the Javanese, Horsfield, male.

joan of the Javanese, Horsfield, female.

Daun or Dawoun of the Malays, Eyton.

 

One would naturally expect to find something recorded respecting the habits of a bird which, like the
present, has had at least four generic and several more specific appellations assigned to it; but such, I
regret to say, is not the case. It is in every respect a typical Phylornis, and moreover the largest known
species of the genus: it is also more widely dispersed, perhaps, than any of the others ; for it not only inha-
bits the eastern parts of the Indian continent and the Malayan peninsula, but the islands of Sumatra and
Java claim it as belonging to their respective faunas. It will be seen from the accompanying drawing that
much difference exists in the plumage of the two sexes, and that the young birds differ from both; at least
such is my belief, founded upon an examination of specimens collected in Malacca by Mr. Wallace, one of
which, with a yellow throat, represented by the middle figure in my Plate, is labelled by him as a young male.

The above lengthy list of synonyms has been published by various writers on Indian birds, and their
validity remains unquestioned : of these, Mr. Moore has satisfied himself that the oldest is that of Javensis ;
and as he was for so many years at the elbow of the late Dr. Horsfield, who proposed the appellation, he is
doubtless correct.

The male has the lores, face, chin, and throat deep velvety black, with a narrow moustache-like line of
blue within the black immediately below the angle of the lower mandible ; all the upper surface and wing-
coverts grass-green ; under surface paler and yellower grass-green ; on the edge of the body next the shoulder,
a mark of light verditer green; primaries and secondaries dark grass-green on their outer webs, brownish
black on the inner; two centre tail-feathers dark grass-green, the remainder the same, but passing into
blackish brown on the margins of their inner webs ; bill black; irides brown ; legs and feet olive.

The young male differs in having the throat yellow.

The female is very similar to her mate in general colouring, but, in lieu of the black throat, has a patch of
yellowish green like the under surface on the chin, the blue moustache of a lighter hue, and a ring of pale
yellow round the eyes.

The Plate represents an adult male, a young male, and a female of the natural size, on the Cissus discolor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

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PHYLLORNIS HARDWICKLI
Hardwick’s Phyllornis.

Chloropsis Hardwickii, Jard. and Selby; Hl. Orn., vol: ii., Addenda, p. 1, note.—Jerd. in Madr. Journ. of Lit. and
Sci., vol. xiii. pt. ii, p. 125.
Phyllornis Hardwickii, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. p. 106, vol. xii. p. 955, vol. xiii. p. 392, vol. xiv.
p. 566, vol. xv. p. 40.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 212.—Gray and Mitch.
Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 124, Phyllornis, sp. 8.—Gray, Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds
presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 60.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., vol. i. p. 396,
Phyllornis, sp. 1.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Kast Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 258.
Chloropsis curvirostris, Swains., Lard. Cab. Cycl. Anim. in Menag., part iii. p. 345.
aurwentris, Deless. Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 100.—Ib. Mag. de Zool. 1840, Ois. pl. 17.—Ib. Voy. dans I’Inde,
fom. i. -p. 23. pl. 7,
chrysogaster, M‘Clell. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part vii. p. 167.
cyanopterus, Hodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Misc., 1844, p. 82.
Bowng-dan-thay of the Aracanese, Blyth.

 

Few persons have been more ardently devoted to the investigation of natural history than the late
Major-General Thomas Hardwicke: not only did this veteran Indian officer amass vast stores of the animal
products of India, which he subsequently bequeathed to the British Museum, but there also will be found a
large number of drawings, both of quadrupeds and birds, presented by the same liberal hand to the great
national repository. It was in honour of this brother labourer in the field of science that Messrs. Jardine
and Selby named the bird here represented Hardwickiit. From Swainson it received the name of
curvirostris—a_ most inappropriate appellation, since its bill is not more curved than that of the other
members of the genus; the term cyanopterus was assigned to it by Mr. Hodgson; while auriventris and
chrysogaster appear among the synonyms as having been given by Mr. M‘Clelland and M. Delessert. Both
cyanopterus and auriventris would have been appropriate specific appellations, had not that of Hardwicki,
by which it will always be known, been previously applied to it.

The Phyllornis Hardwicki will rank as one of the finest members of the genus, as it is interesting not only
for its gay and fine colouring, but from the circumstance of its tints being so widely different from those of
any of its congeners as to render it at once distinguishable from all of them. It is confined, so far as I
can ascertain, to the countries of Nepaul, Bhotan, Assam, Sylhet, and Aracan.

As will be seen on reference to the opposite Plate, the sexes present a marked difference in their colouring ;
it will be noticed also that the black gorget of the male extends further down than in any other species.
Other peculiarities in the colouring of this sex will also be apparent, such as the blue colouring of the wing,
the orange on the breast, &c.

The male has the lores, sides of the face, chin, throat, front of the neck, and a large gorget-shaped mark
on the breast deep velvety black ; a broad moustache of azure-blue descending from the angle of the mouth
within the black; all the upper surface, scapularies, and secondaries yellowish grass-green, the yellow tint
prevailing on the head and back of the neck ; shoulder glossy verditer blue; greater wing-coverts and margins
of the primaries deep blue; inner webs of the primaries blackish brown ; tail deep blue ; under surface dull
orange ; bill black; irides brown; feet olive-grey.

The general plumage of the female is grass-green, with a light-blue moustache at the angle of the lower
mandible ; and the centre of the abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts orange.

The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size, on the Epigynium acuminatum.

 
 

 
 

 
 

5

4

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

PHYLLORNIS HODGSONTI.
Hodgson’s Phyllornis.

Hurruwa Bee-eater, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 125. pl. 68.
———. Malabaricus, Jard. and Selby, Il. Orn., vol. i. Syn. Spec. Chloropsis, sp. 2, and pl. &.
aurifrons, Jard. and Selby, Il. Orn., vol. ii. Syn. Spec. Chloropsis, in text to pl. 100, sp. 3.—Jerd. Madras
Journ. Lit. and Sci., vol. xiii. part ii. p. 12s.

Phyllornis aurifrons, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. p. 458, vol. xii. p. 956, vol. xiv. p. 566.—Ib. Cat.
of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 212.—Gray, Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds
presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 61.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus.
East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 258.

Merops Hurryba, Dr. F. B. Hamilton, MS. i. Dp. G6.

Hurryba (various voices), Hamilton.

Sulz Hariwa of the Nepaulese, Hodgson.

Nget-tsin of the Aracanese, Blyth.

 

Mr. G. R. Gray is inclined to believe that the present bird, which is a native of Upper India, is quite distinct
from that figured by Temminck in his ‘ Planches Coloriées’ under the name of Phyllornis aurifrons, and
which he states is a native of Pallambang, in the island of Sumatra. Now, although I have not had an
opportunity of examining the original of M. Temminck’s figure and description, I am inclined to coincide
with Mr. Gray’s opinion, and have therefore adopted the specific name of Hodge soni suggested by him.

Should our joint opinion prove to be correct, then three of the finest members of the genus Phyllornis,
inhabiting the continent of India, will be respectively named after three persons who have paid particular
attention to the investigation of the ornithology of that interesting region, namely, Hardwicke, Hodgson,
and Jerdon. I have already spoken of two of these gentlemen when writing on the species bearing their
names, and now for a word respecting Mr. Hodgson, to whom the present beautiful species is dedicated.
For him no eulogy from me is necessary, since his fame is amply secured by his numerous valuable papers
on the natural history of India, and by the vast collections, both of specimens and drawings, he has so
liberally presented to that great national repository, the British Museum. These invaluable stores form
abundant materials for the illustration of the fauna of one of our greatest and richest possessions. The
term Hodgson, then, is in this instance especially appropriate, and I trust that the bird here represented
will always be recognized by it by every ornithologist. The bird itself has long been familiarly known to
us as the Hurruwa Bee eater of Latham whose figure of the male, in the fourth volume of his ‘General
History of Birds,’ must always leave a lasting impression upon the mind of every young ornithologist.

The native habitat of the Phyllornis Hodgsoni is Northern India, the Himalayas, Sylhet, and Aracan.
Latham says “it is the Hurrial or Hurryba of the Hindostanese, pronounced Hurruwa ; it is said to sing
very prettily, from whence the name Flurry, various, and Ba, voice.”

Mr. Blyth tells us that “ it is no despicable songster, and lives and sings well in confinement.”

I cannot close my remarks on this species without offering my thanks to Edward Vernon Harcourt, Esq.,
for the specimens from which my figures were taken. This gentleman has devoted much time and attention
to natural history, and I have much pleasure in recording my obligations to him, not only for examples of
this, but for other species of birds inhabiting the great Himalaya range of mountains.

The usual difference occurs in the colouring of the sexes, the female, as will be seen on reference to the
opposite Plate, being destitute of the black throat.

Forehead rich reddish orange , lores and throat-gorget deep velvety black, bordered externally with
yellow; chin deep blue; plumage of the body, wings, and tail grass-green, lighter beneath ; inner webs of
the primaries and secondaries blackish brown, on each shoulder a patch of verditer blue ; bill black ; irides
yellowish hazel ; legs olive-grey.

The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Hevacentris Mysorensis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

|

TIN 01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

PHYLLORNIS MALABARICUS.
Malabar Phyllornis.

Turdus Malabaricus, Gmel. edit. of Linn. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 837.—Lath. Ind. Orn.,. vol. i. p, 349:

Yellow-fronted Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. iii. p. 60.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 64.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. x. p.: 252,

Le Petit Merle de la Céte de Malabar, Sonn. Voy. Ind., tom. ii. p: E92:

Chloropsis Malabaricus, Jard. and Selby, Syn. Spec. Chiloropsis in Ill. Orn., vol. ii. text to pl. 100. sp. 1.—Jerd. Ill.
Ind. Orn., text to pl. 43.

Phyllornis malabarica, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 124, Phyllornis, sp. 2.

Frontalis, Natt. Syn. MS. Pelz. Sitz. der Math. Classe der Kais. Akad. der Wissensch., Zwanz. Band,
1856, p. 157. taf. 2. fig. 1.

 

Tuere is no doubt in my mind about the present bird being identical with that described by Latham under
the name of the Yellow-fronted Thrush (vide his ‘ General History of Birds,’ vol. vy. p- 64); it is equally clear
to me that it is the “Petit Merle de la Céte de Malabar ” of Sonnerat’s ‘Voyage aux Indes Orientales et
a la Chine,’ tome ii. p. 192; my old friend Natterer’s name of frontalis therefore cannot for a moment
be entertained. I mention this fact, because the bird has been lately figured under that appellation in the
foreign journal referred to above.

In size the Phyllornis Malabaricus fully equals, if it does not exceed, the P. Jerdoni; but it differs from
that species in the orange colouring of the fore-part of the head. The entire blue throat of the Hodg'soni,
another species inhabiting the northern parts of India, is a character which, if attended to, will enable the
ornithologist to distinguish it from that species.

As its name implies, this species is found in the country of Malabar and the western coast of the peninsula
generally. The Vienna journal above quoted states that Baron Hugel found it at Khelgat near Goa.

«This species,” says Mr. Jerdon, “is much more rare than the P. Jerdoni, preferring the vicinity of lofty
jungles, and is only to be found about the western coast, and some of the denser portions of the jungles
of the Eastern Ghauts.”

The male has the forehead fine rich orange; lores, chin, and throat deep velvety black, within which the
usual blue moustache-like mark descends from the base of the lower mandible; all the upper and under
surface, wings, and tail grass-green, washed with yellow, where this colour meets the black throat-mark ;
shoulders fine shining verditer blue; inner webs of the primaries and secondaries brownish black ;_ bill
black, inclining to flesh-colour at the base ; irides yellowish hazel ; feet olive-grey.

The female differs in having the throat bluish green, and the forehead and sides of the neck washed with
yellow.

The Plate represents both sexes of the natural size, on the Astilbe rubra.

 

 
 

 
 
 

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PHYLLORNIS JERDONI.
Jerdon’s Phyllornis.

],

Phyllornis Jerdoni, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng,, vol. xii. p. 392, vol. xiv. p. 566.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat.
Soc. Calcutta, p. 212.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., vol. i. p. 396, Phyllornis, sp. 4.—Jerd. Ill. Ind. Orn.,
Index.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 259.—Layard in Ann.
and Mag. Nat. Hist., 2nd ser. vol. xii, p. 176.

Chloropsis Jerdoni, Jerd. Tl. Ind. Orn., pl. 43.—Ib. Madras Journ. of Lit. and eel, vol. xi pt mp, 124.

——— Casmarhynchus, Gray, in Griff. An. Kingd., vol. vi. p. 391.

—_.— cesmarhynchos, Tickell, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. p. 577.—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soe. Beng.,
vol. xii. p. 956.

Phyllornis casmarhynchus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i, p. 124, Phyllornis, sp. 5.

—————- cochinsinensis, Jerd. Madr. Journ. of Lit. and ct., vol. x. p. 247, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng.,
vol. xii. p. 957.

Blue-chinned Thrush, var. A, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 93 (young).

 

I wave much pleasure in adopting Mr. Blyth’s name of Jerdoni for this species of Phyllornis, as by so doing
I shall assist in perpetuating the name of a gentleman who has contributed so largely to our knowledge of
the birds of the Indian peninsula, and whose scientific papers on the ornithology of that part of our Eastern
possessions so justly entitle him to the distinction of having one of its fine birds named after him.

“This species,” says Mr. Jerdon, ‘is spread over a great part of the continent of India, wherever there is
a sufficiency of woodland ; it is extremely common in all the western provinces, and in the jungles of the
Eastern Ghauts, but it is rarely met with in the open country of the Carnatic, Mysore, or Hydrabad, and
there only in the vicinity of well-wooded towns. It is usually met with in pairs, flitting about the extreme
branches of trees, examining the leaves for various insects, after which it occasionally takes a short flight of
a foot or two, searching for some suitable fruit. It has a somewhat varied note, its usual call being, as
Mr. Blyth remarks, not unlike that of the King Crow (Dicrurus macrocercus), though softened down and
mellowed, and occasionally is very agreeable. I have seen a nest of this species in the possession of
S. N. Ward, Esq.; it is a neat but slight cup-shaped nest, composed chiefly of fine grass, and was placed
near the extremity of a branch, some of the nearest leaves being, it was said, brought down and loosely
surrounding it. It contained two eggs, white, with a few claret-coloured blotches; its nest and eggs, I
may remark, show an analogy to those of the Orzoles.”

Captain Tickell informs us that ‘this bird is a beautiful songster and an excellent mocker, and imitates
the notes of almost every small bird of the country.”

In the volume of the ‘ Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ above referred to, Mr. Layard says the
bird is “‘ extremely common in the south of Ceylon, but rare towards the north; it feeds in small flocks on
seeds and insects, and builds an open cup-shaped nest. The eggs, four in number, are white, thickly
mottled at the obtuse end with purplish spots.”

The male has the face, chin and throat deep velyety black, with a shining small blue moustache within
the black below the angle of the lower mandible; general plumage green, lighter beneath, and passing
into a yellow hue on the forehead and round the black gorget; shoulders verditer blue; primaries and
secondaries brownish black on their inner, and green on their outer webs; tail grass-green ; irides brown ;
bill brownish black ; legs greenish grey.

The female differs in having the throat pale verditer green and the moustache bluish green.

The Plate represents the two sexes of the size of life, on the Thunbergia Harrisi.

 

 
 

 
 

 

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PHYLLORNIS CYANOPOGON, Temm.
All Green Phyllornis.

Phyllornis cyanopogon, Temm. Pl. Col. 512. fig. 1.—Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 301.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat.
Soc. Calcutta, p. 213.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 124, Phyllornis, sp. 6.—Moore in
Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxii. p. 280.
Malabaricus, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xii. p- 957.
Burong Daun of the Malays in Sumatra, Raffles.
Phyllornis mystacalis, Moore in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxii. p. 280.
cyanopogon, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xiv. p. 564. :
Chloropsis mysticalis, Swains. in Lard. Cycl., Anim. in Menag., part iii. p. 96.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds,
vol. 1. p. 124, Phyllornis, sp. 7.
————— eyanopogon, Jard. and Selby, syn. spec. Chloropsis in Ill. Orn., vol. ii. text to pl. 100. sp. 6.

 

No confusion need ever exist as to the identity of the bird here represented, since it differs from all its
congeners in the absence of any blue or greenish blue on the shoulder, and in the almost uniform green
colouring of its entire plumage, which is only relieved in the male by the black colouring of the throat and
the usual stripe of blue springing from the base of the lower mandible.

The Phyllornis cyanopogon, which must rank as one of the smaller members of the genus, Is undoubtedly
the bird described under the name of Phyllornis mysticalis by the late Mr. Swainson, who appears not to have
been aware of the loealities-in which it is found, but which we now know to be Malacca, and the Malay
countries generally. Most of the specimens received in Europe are sent from Singapore. Temminck states
that it is also found in Sumatra, but not in abundance.

The sexes of this species, like those of all the other members of the genus, may be at once distinguished
by the absence of any black colouring on the throat of the female.

The male has the general plumage grass-green above and paler beneath; lores, chin, and throat deep
velvety black, within which a narrow stripe of blue descends from the angle of the lower mandible; inner
webs of the primaries and secondaries brownish black ; tail green above, beneath slaty brown; bill black ;
irides brown ; feet olive-grey. ;

The female differs in having the throat green instead of black, with, in some specimens, a slight blue

moustache.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size, on the Ceropegra Cumingrana.

 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 

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IRENA CYANEA.
Malayan Fairy Bluebird.

Muscicapa cyanea, Begbie, Malayan Peninsula, p. 517 (1834).

Trena puella, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. xv. p. 308 (nec Lath.).—Id. Cat. Birds Mus. As. Soc. Beng. p. 214
(partim).—Bonap. Consp. i. p. 274.—Walden, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 4, vol. v. p. 417.—Id. Ibis,
ES7t, p. Tao:

Trena malayensis, Moore in Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E.I. Co. i. p. 274.—Jerdon, Birds of India, ii. p. 106.
—Gray, Hand-list of Birds, i. p. 288.

Irena cyanea, Walden, Ibis, 1871, p. 170.—Sharpe, Cat. Birds, iii. p. 269.—Hume, Stray Feathers, 1879, p. 63.

 

Tue specific distinctness of the members of the genus Jena has been for many years a subject of discussion
amongst naturalists; and it 1s now more than thirty years ago since the late Mr. Blyth drew attention to
the subject. In a note upon the genus /rena he remarks :—‘‘A curious distinction between the Indian and
Malayan J. pued/a has been pointed out by Lord Arthur Hay, to whom we are indebted for numerous other
closely allied forms. In the Malayan bird the under tail-coverts reach quite to the end of the tail, while in
I. indica they are never less than an inch and a quarter short of the tail-tip in the males, and generally an inch
and a half short in the females. I have verified this observation in so many examples from both regions
that there can be no doubt of the fact.”

Ever since the date of the above passage naturalists have been agreed, with greater or less unanimity, that
the Malaccan Jrena was a distinct species; and in 1854 Mr. Frederic Moore gave to it the name of
I. malayensis. Kven as the title of J. indica, bestowed on the Indian bird by Lord Arthur Hay, was found to
be forestalled by the older name of Z. puella (Latham), so a more ancient name for the Malaccan bird was
found in an old work on the Malayan peninsula by Captain Begbie, who called it Muscicapa cyanea. It is
common enough in collections from the Malayan peninsula; and Mr. Hume records it from Malacca, Johore,
and Singapore, while, according to the late Dr. Stoliczka, it goes as high as Province Wellesley.

Nothing has been recorded of its habits, that I am aware of; and I end this article, therefore, by quoting
the description given by Mr. Sharpe in his ‘ Catalogue of Birds.’

“ Adult male. Similar to I. cringer in the distribution of its colour and in the shade of blue, but having
the under tail-coverts falling short of the tail by half an inch. Total length 9-3 inches, culmen 1-0, wing
A°6, tail 3°5, tarsus 0°7.

“Adult female. Similar to the female of [rena criniger. Total length 8°5 inches, wing 4:6, tail 3:7,
tarsus 0°7.”

The figures in the Plate represent a pair of birds in my own collection; they are of about the natural

Size.

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

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IRENA CRINIGER, Sharpe.

Bornean Fairy Bluebird.

Coracias puella, Raffles, Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 302 (nec Lath.).

frena puella, Motley & Dillwyn, Nat. Hist. Labuan, p. 23 (nec Lath.).—Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, 217.
Irena cyanea, Salvad. Uccelli di Borneo, p. 151 (nec Begbie).

Irena turcosa, Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 44 (nec Walden).

Irena criniger, Sharpe, Cat. Birds, iii. p. 267.—Id. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1879, p. 338.—Id. Ibis, 1879, D. 257:

 

Tux present representative of the genus Zrena is distinguished by the extreme length of the blue under tail-
coverts, which reach to the very end of the tail, the upper tail-coverts extending nearly as far. It is one
of the handsomest species of a genus where all the species are beautiful.

In Borneo it appears to be generally distributed. Mr. Motley met with it near Banjermassing ; and it
seems to be especially plentiful in the Sarawak district, to judge from the large series collected by the
Marquis Doria and Dr. Beccari, while Mr. Alfred Everett has also sent several examples from the same
locality. The latter gentlemen also met with it at Bintulu, further up on the west coast of Borneo; and
Governor Ussher forwarded specimens from Lumbidan, in the north-western part of the island. Here, too,
Mr. Treacher obtained it, and says that it is called by the natives “Lalu.” This is also its native name in
the island of Labuan, the natural history of which has been so thoroughly explored by the two gentlemen just
named. Lastly, Mr. W. Pryer has recently met with the species in Sandakan, in North-eastern Borneo.

In the island of Labuan, Governor Ussher states, it is by no means rare, and is generally to be found
on the small species of Ficus, devouring the berries ; it is extremely noiseless in its flight, and flits into the
thick bush when disturbed ; it is generally seen from April to September.

The species also occurs in the island of Sumatra, and presents us with another example of the affinity
that exists between the avifauna of Sumatra and that of Borneo. In the present instance Mr. Sharpe has
compared specimens from both localities, in the British Museum, and has found them to be perfectly
identical. The Jrena from Java is a distinct species from the one inhabiting Sumatra and Borneo.

As no detailed description of the bird’s habits has yet been published, I must content myself with adding
the diagnosis of the species given by Mr. Sharpe in the ‘ Catalogue of Birds.’

“Adult male. Blue and black, as in the rest of the genus, the hue of the blue colour being intense cobalt,
very rich on the head; the under tail-coverts produced to the very end of the tail, the upper tail-coverts
also nearly as far ; bill and legs black; iris red. Total length 9°3 inches, culmen 0-95, wing 4°6, tail 3°25,
tarsus 0°65.

‘““ddult female. Of the usual dull blue colour which distinguishes the hen birds in this genus.”

The figures in the Plate represent the two sexes, of the size of life, and are drawn from specimens in my

own collection.

 
 

 
 

 

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IRENA .PUELLA.
Indian Fairy Bluebird.

Fary Roller, Latham, Gen. Synopsis, Suppl. p. 87.

Coracias puella, Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 171.—Daudin, Traité, ii. p. 264.

Irena puella, Jerdon, Madras Journal, xiii. p. 262.—Mc Clell. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. 160.—Gray, Gen. Birds,
i. p. 288, pl. 70. fig. 3 (1847).—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. of Birds Mus. E.I. Co. p-. 273 (1854).—Jerdon,
B. India, ii. p. 105 (1863).—Gray, Hand-l. Birds, i. p. 288 (1869).—Stoliczka, Journ. As. Soc. Beng.
XXxix. pt. 2, p. 318 (1870).—Wald. Ibis, 1871, p. 170.—Holdsw. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1872, p. 452.—
Wald. Ibis, 1873, p. 306.—Armstrong, Stray Feathers, 1876, p. 326.—Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus.
lll. p. 268 (1877).—Fairbank, Str. F. 1877, p. 406.—Hume & Davison, Stray Feathers, 1878, pp. 328,
516.—Hume, Str. F. 1879, p. 99.—Legge, Birds of Ceylon, p. 466 (1880).—Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit.
Mus. vi. p. 177 (1881).

Irena indica, A. Hay, in Blyth’s Report, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xv. p. 309 (1846).—Bonap. Consp. i. p. 349 (1850).

 

Tuts is the best-known of all the Fairy Bluebirds; and, in giving several illustrations of the different species
of the genus Jrena, I have been desirous of illustrating one of the most interesting and peculiar forms of
Asiatic bird-life. The systematic position of the genus Jrena has been one that has puzzled a good many
naturalists ; and it has been variously placed in the families Dicruride and Brachypodide. Mr. Bowdler
Sharpe placed the genus among the Dicruride in the third volume of the ‘Catalogue of Birds ;’ but,
recognizing his mistake, he bas lately, in his sixth volume, republished the descriptions, and classified the
genus with the Bulbuls. To this conclusion he was led by the arguments used by the late Marquis of
Tweeddale, in his critique on the third volume of the ‘Catalogue of Birds ;’ and I do not think I can do
better than reproduce some of the observations made by his Lordship on that occasion.

“* Irena. The true systematic position of this genus has divided the opinions of ornithologists ever since
Horsfield founded it. Temminck first classed it among the Dicruridz ; and so have other authors since, and
Mr. Sharpe does the same. Jerdon placed it (following Blyth) among the short-legged Thrushes, and made
it constitute a separate subfamily, Ireninz, the third among the Brachypodide, arranging it between the
Phyllornithinz and the Oriolinz. In Jerdon’s view I must undoubtedly concur. The affinity between rena
and Dicrurus is more apparent than real; it is an affinity of mimicry at best. The contour of the bill has a
superficial resemblance; but the margins of the commissure are inflected in Jrena; in Dicrurus they are
spreading. In the last the rictal bristles are developed (a certain indication of insectivorous habits) ; in Zrena
they are short, weak, almost absorbed. In the gradation of the quills there is some analogy; but in rena,
the 3rd, 4th, and 5th are usually equal and longest, whereas in Dicrurus the 3rd is generally shorter than the
Ath and 5th. Beyond these points all resemblance ceases. The tarsus and feet are short and weak in Jrena ;
the toes and nails are singularly slender for the size of the body; and the outer toe is free, whereas in
Dicrurus it is ankylosed up to the first joint. The tail consists of twelve rectrices, and not of ten; and
this character of itself removes Jrena from the Dicruridz, according to Mr. Sharpe’s own definition. The
plumage is of a totally different character. The skin in /rena is especially tender; in Dicrurus it is
exceedingly tough. In Dicrurus the sexes wear the same plumage, even the ornate plumes; in Jrena the
male has a brilliant and the female a sombre attire. Every species of Jrena has a number of fine nuchal
hairs, which are wanting in Dierurus. ‘This last character (unknown to Blyth and Jerdon), together with
the short and weak feet, indicates a great affinity to Crauger. The Dicrurt are insectivorous, some even
killing small birds, whereas [rena is frugivorous. The structure of the sternum in Dicrurus is, I believe,
different from that of Jrena. The notes of Jrena are those of Oriolus, and have no similarity to those of
Dicrurus.”

The Indian Fairy Bluebird is found in the forests of Southern India. Jerdon states it is far from
uncommon in the lofty jungles of Malabar, and he also met with it in forests near Palghautcherry, Trichoor,
the Wynaad, and on the Coonoor Ghat as high as 4000 feet and upwards ; it is also found in Travancore,
in the Neilgherri Mountains, and the Palani Hills, ranging as high as 4000 feet in the latter locality
according to Dr. Fairbank, who also met with it in the Sawant-wade woods in the Khandala district. It is
very rare in Ceylon, having only been known to occur in that island on three occasions, twice near Kandy, and
once near Saffragam. Although it has been said to have been met with near Sehwan, in Scinde, Mr. Hume
has pointed out that it was in all probability a caged specimen which had been killed, as this locality is so
far out of the bird’s range that it is scarcely possible for it to have occarred in a wild state. It is not
known from any part of the Himalayas until Sikkim is reached ; but eastwards from that country it occurs

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Y © . nila
oe ochin-China. It extends as
throughout the whole of the Indo-Chinese countries, ranging into Siam as C hors
eo OV »
far south as Tenasserim; but Mr. Hume states that near Merg ui in the — pr ert .
° ites that he found it extreme
exhibited a tendency towards the Malayan race, I. cyanea. Mr. Oates ste é y

abundant in all the evergreen forests on the eastert

rn slopes of the Pegu hills, but that it is never seen on the

western slopes or on the plains. i pg ia
7 , lley. Captain Bingham describes his finding of a nest as
In his paper on the birds of the Thoungyeen valley, Ca] : hill-side overlooking the
: re teep hill-side ov
follows :—‘‘ On the 11th of April I was slowly clambering along a very steep

; re mn from a tree, whose crown was below my
oie choung, a small tributary of the Maplay stream, whe : ; =
I could see the nest and that it contained two eggs; so

feet, I startled a female /rena puella off her nest.
On getting the nest down I found it a poor

shot the female, who had taken to a tree a little above me. hcl \
e ys > a f ° - se a 2S S
affair of little twios. with a superstructure of moss shaped into a hollow saucer, on which reposed two eggs,

large for the size of the bird, of a dull greenish white, much dashed, speckled, aad apotted with brown.
They were so hard set, that I only managed to save one, which measured 1-09 by oa? =o. ie

The following description of the habits of the birds is copied verbatim from Captam Legge’s Birds Oo
Ceylon —* The Fairy Bluebird associates in small parties and affects lofty trees in foliage, Tecmie on
It is entirely a fruit-eating bird, and in this respect shows its affinity to the poe of the short-
legged Thrushes (Brachypodide). It is never found, says Mr. Davison, in the deciduous forests of
Tenasserim. The tenacious manner in which it confines itself to the evergreen jungle is remarkable ; for he
writes, ‘ About Pappoon, where the forests are deciduous, I never saw one; but, again, US twenty a
to the north of that place, the bird reappears with evergreen forests.’ The constantly recurring supply of
food in the latter naturally accounts for the predilection of the Bluebird for them; but it is strange that
when deciduous woods are found in their vicinity it does not wander through them during the season of
fruition. Mr. Davison writes:—‘It is almost always found in flocks, but occasionally in pairs or even
singly. It is a very bright and lively bird, always on the move, hopping from branch to branch or tree to
tree, uttering its fine note, which resembles exactly the words “ be quick, be quick.” They live on fruit, I
believe, exclusively, and are especially fond of figs; and where a fig-tree is in fruit great numbers
congregate, with Hornbills, Green Pigeons, Fruit-Pigeons, and numbers of other fruit- eating birds. In the
middle of the day they ae come down to the banks of streams and the smaller rivers to drink and
bathe.’ Jerdon styles its note ‘a fine Bees warble, which it is constantly repeating, both when feeding

their fruit.

and when it flies from one tree to another.’

I add the description of the species given by Mr. Bowdler Sharpe in the ‘ Catalogue of Birds ’:—

“Adult male. General colour above deep purplish cobalt, of a purer blue shade somewhat on the forehead ;
scapulars as well as the breast and median coverts coloured exactly like the back, the greater series blackish,
with a cobalt-blue spot at the tips of some of them; quills and tail black, with a slight bluish shade on the
secondaries and central tail- feathers ; lores, feathers over the eye, sides of face, sides of neck, and entire
under surface, including the thighs aa under wing-coverts, black ; under tail-coverts deep purplish cobalt ;
bill and legs black ; iris ruby-red. Total length 10 inches, culmen 0-95, tail 4°45, tarsus 0°75, dense
between tip of tail-coverts and tip of tail 1-6.

‘Adult female. Different in colour from the male, bemg of a dull Prussian blue, a little brighter and
inclining to cobalt on the rump and upper and under tail-coverts ; wings and tail dark brown, the quills
narrowly edged and the secondaries and tail-feathers w ashed with dull blue, the latter more conspicuously,”

The Plate represents a pair of birds of the size of life, drawn from examples in my own collection.

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IRENA CYANOGASTRA, Figors

Blue-mantled Fairy Bluebird.

[rena cyanogastra, Vigors, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1831, p. 97.—Gray & Mitchell, Genera of Birds, i. p. 288, pl. 70.—
Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 349.—Cass. United-States Exploring Exped., Aves, p. 143.—Gray,
Hand-list of Birds, i. p. 288.—Walden, Trans. Zool. Soc. ix. p. 190.—Sharpe, Cat. Birds, iii. p. 266.—
Id. ‘Trans. Linn. Soc. n. ser. Zool., i. p. 352.—Wardlaw Ramsay, Orn. Works of Marquis of Tweed-
dale, p. 657.

 

Two species of the genus Sena are distinguished by having the under surface of the body blue instead of
black. Both these species are confined to the Philippine Archipelago, one of them, the subject of the
present article, being an inhabitant of Luzon and Panay, while it is represented in the island of Basilan by
I. melanochlamys.

Although the present species has been known to science ever since the year 1831, no details have as yet
been published of its habits; and I must refer my readers to the accounts published of Zrena puella, as the
habits of all the members of the genus are doubtless similar. If, as Dr. Meyer states, the sexes are alike
in plumage, it would differ in this respect from all its allies. Without affirming the absolute correctness
of Dr. Meyer’s statements, I must admit that of all the specimens examined by me, none have shown any
difference in their plumage ; but its Basilan representative has the sexes differing in the manner usual with
the Lrene.

The following description is copied from Mr. Sharpe’s ‘ Catalogue of Birds °-—

‘‘ Adult male. General colour above deep purplish blue, slightly varied on the rump with ashy brown,
where the traces of the feathers show through ; the scapulars resembling the back ; least and median wing-
coverts deep cobalt-blue, the greater series black, shading off into deep cobalt at the tip, very slightly on
the outermost, conspicuously on the inner ones; primary coverts black, the quills black, the inner
secondaries externally deep cobalt like the wing-coverts, the greater upper tail-coverts deep cobalt, brighter
than the lower back ; tail black, washed with deep purple, more plainly on the centre feathers ; crown of
head and nape deep cobalt-blue, a little brighter on the fore part of the crown; lores, sides of face and
of neck, entire throat, and chest black; rest of under surface deep purplish blue like the back ; under
tail-coverts deep cobalt-blue; thighs and under wing-coverts brown, washed with purplish blue; iris red.
Total length 10 inches, culmen 1°15, wing 5°35, tail 4-4, tarsus 0°85.”

The figures in the Plate are of the size of life, and are drawn from specimens in my own collection.

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IRENA MELANOCHLAMYS, snarpe.

Black-mantled Fairy Bluebird.

Irena melanochlamys, Sharpe, Cat. Birds, iii. p. 266.—id. Trans. Linn. Soc. new series, Zool. i. p. 352.—T weedd.
Proc. Zool. Soc. 1879, p. 71.—Wardlaw Ramsay, Orn. Works of Marquis of Tweeddale, p. 649.

 

Tue present species is the representative in the island of Basilan of Jrena cyanogastra, Vigors, of Luzon and
Panay ; it differs, however, in having the back and mantle black instead of deep blue.

All that is known of the present bird is contained in the bare record of its discovery by Dr. Steere in
Basilan, and that since then Mr. Alfred Everett has met with it in the same island, the latter gentleman
giving the colour of the iris as ‘‘ pure Indian red.”

The following is a transcript of the original description given by Mr. Sharpe :—

“© Adult male. Crown of head and nape glistening purplish cobalt, extending to the middle of the hind neck ;
sides of neck, mantle, and scapulars deep velvety black ; lower back and rump dull purplish cobalt, much
brighter on the upper tail-coverts ;_ wings black, the lesser and median series purplish cobalt, the greater series
black, tipped with the same cobalt, the innermost, as well as the inner, secondaries externally of the same
colour; tail black, shaded with purple on the centre feathers and the outer webs of the others; lores,
feathers above and round the eye, throat and fore neck deep velvety black, the rest of the under surface
dull purple, the under tail-coverts bright purplish cobalt ; under wing-coverts dull purple; bill black ; legs
black; iris carmine. Total length 10 inches, culmen 1:05, wing 4°8, tail 4-1, tarsus 0-7.”

The figures in the Plate represent a male bird in two different attitudes, a little less than the size of
life. They were drawn from the typical example kindly lent to me by Professor Steere during his visit to

England. ER. B.S.)

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 

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COPSYCHUS SAULARIS.
Dial Bird.

Gracula saularis, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i, p. 165.—Ib, Gmel. edit., tom. i. p. 397.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i, p, 192.

Sternus saularis, Daud. Orn., tom. ii. p. 321.

Lanius Bengalensis niger, Briss. Orn., tom. ii. p. 184.

Copsychus saularis, Wagl. Syst. Av., sp. -—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. p. 889, vol. xvi. p. 138.
Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 166.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. DillA
—Gray, Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds pres. to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq.,
p. 67.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 267.—Layard, Ann. Nat. Hist., 2nd ser. vol. xii. p. 263.
—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 275.—Sclat. in Proc, of Zool.
Soc. 1861, p. 186.—Swinh. in Ibis, vol. ii. p. 54.

Gryllivora intermedia, Jerd. Madras Journ. of Lit. and Bch, Vol. %. Dp. 203

Dahila docilis, Hodgs. Asiat. Res., vol. xix, p. 189.

Kittacincla melanoleuca, Less. Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 354,

Fringilla nigra, Klein, Av., p. 98.

The Little Indian Pye, Edw. Nat. Hist. of Birds, part iv. pl. 191.

Dial Grakle, Lath. Gen. yl, tome p. 2655 Supp., p. 91.—Marsd. Hist. of Sumatra, p. 98.—Lath. Gen. Hist.,
Vol.all. pe 165;

Magpie Robin, English in Ceylon, Layard.

Dayal, Beng., Hamilton, Blyth.

Day-yur or Deyr, Hind, Jerdon.

Polichia, Cing., Layard.

Jaravy cooroort, ‘Charcoal Bird,’’ Mal., Layard.

Chuy-kam-chay, at Amoy, Swinhoe.

 

To say that the “ voice of song” is denied to the birds of India would be untrue; for that favoured land, as
well as most others, comprises some beautiful musicians among its ornithological productions; and the
Shama, the Dayal, and the Bulbul of India are scarcely inferior in musical powers to the celebrated Mocking-
Bird of America, or our own no less celebrated Nightingale. So conspicuous in this respect is the present
bird that it has attracted the notice of nearly every writer on the birds of India; and I cannot do better than
give a transcript of the interesting accounts they have placed on record.

“The Dayal,” says Mr. Jerdon, “ is generally spread throughout India, and frequents jungles, gardens,
avenues, topes, &c. It is solitary, frequenting thick trees and bushes; feeds on the ground, flying down
from a low branch (its usual perch), and frequently hopping a few steps on the ground, jerking its tail well
up every now and then. On securing an insect, it flies back to its perch, elevating its tail on reseating
itself, and uttering a pleasant warble. Towards evening, it may often be seen near the top of some lofty
tree in the jungle, pouring forth its agreeable song, which, however, must yield the palm to the Shama.”

Captain Hutton states that it “arrives on the hills, up to 5000 feet, in the beginning of April. It returns
to the Doon and the plains in early autumn. It breeds in May, on the 19th of which month I took a nest
from a bank by the roadside ; it was composed of green mosses, and lined with very fine roots. Eggs four,
carneous cream-colour, somewhat blistered at the larger end; diameter % x in. Delights to sit on the
topmost branches of a tree, generally selecting a dry and leafless twig, from whence it utters a pleasing song,
which is replied to by another individual at no great distance. When on the ground, it hops with the wings
half open or drooping, and at each hop it stops to jerk and spread its tail.”

Mr. Hodgson informs us that ‘The Dayals, if found in the wilds, tenant meadows and grass-land_ pro-
vided with brushwood ; but they are nowhere so common as in gardens and on lawns, which they enliven
in spring by their song, and at all times by their vivacity and familiarity. They dislike and avoid the in-
terior of woods. Their usual food is grubs, worms, beetles, grasshoppers, and their congeners ; rarely, in
winter, they take unripe vetches and such like, but never gravel, sand, or hard seeds. They move quickly
on the ground, yet perch firmly and readily, frequently watching for their prey on a low twig, to which they
return as soon as they have beaten it to death on the ground. They never seize on the wing. When cattle
pass their way, they will partially attend on the herd, descending occasionally from their perch to snatch up
the insects and grubs brought to light by the act of grazing. These birds are perpetually in motion, and
raise and depress the body, with flirtation of the tail, exactly in the Wagtail manner. Their habits of society,
in respect to their own kind, are solitary, or nearly so, except in the breeding-season, when these monogamous
and attached birds steadily unite to rear and defend their young. The female usually lays five spotted eggs,
bringing up from three to four young ones, and but once a year unless the first brood has failed or been rifled
from her. The nest is carelessly made of grass, but is always placed in a secure and sheltered position—

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
   
  
   
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
   
  
 
 
  
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

| T the
: + thic ‘ckly plant. The Dayal is one of
commonly a bole in a wall, sometimes the interior of a low, thick, prickly pl ry

i ‘ity. Few of the
ds, and is perpetually caged, both for his song and his pugnacity
9 ne

boldest and most docile of bir - te callimense Wid eun
: : smitatic siHgent bird wi
sor is it deoraded by apish tricks of imitation, though this intellig
Thrushes have a finer note; nor 1s 1t degraded by ap

i 5 2 ing the male birds are perpetually
lend its courage for the profit or amusement of its keeper. In the apring : é aan Tee oe
is the defiance of one uttered than it is answere y an :

iging each other, < oner
challenging each other, and no so sale oil hin gotsondpeeeee

e j i O ISI ak is tame
} 1 availing olf his pr pensit ’ takes out his

srofessional bird-keeper, availing himself of this | y =

: . presently challenges ; the wild one immediately

> nex arde erove; the bird, at his bidding,
to the nearest garden or grove ; ; dicing which a

answers: the former is then slipped, and a desperate contest ensues between a eee ee
fowler readily secures the wild bird, with the tame one’s Serine for the sige a e - me
owner’s purpose, seizing the wild bird at the critical moment with both ae anc ne = ae
his master comes up, in case it has not been so much exhausted Ys the prewpus oon : a a
from flying away at the man’s approach. Fighting the tame birds is : favourite ae : ;
nor can any race of game-cocks contend with more energy and pesqlaien a do these ia i ie
Mr. Layard informs us that, in Ceylon, “this familiar household bird is called the Les Ul aby
Dienen and the natives regard it with as much interest as we do our own red-breasted favourite, of which

it is the Eastern representative. It is seldom seen away from habitations, about which it usually builds,

though the nest is often placed in a thick bush or hollow tree. ie oe

| i i > eI 2 is Insects, of « id in all stages
bright blue, thickly spotted with brown at the obtuse end. The food is isects, of all kinds sl all stages,
They have a variety of notes, and the song poured out in the fulness

The eggs, commonly four in number, are

captured on the ground and on trees.
of their joy in the pairing-season is very pleasing. On the top of a towering IE opposite ny
residence in Colombo (in Ceylon), a Magpie-Robin daily for some weeks charmed me with its song, ee
his mate sat brooding her eggs or callow nestlings in the roof of a native hut beneath him. One morning,
after the young had left the nest and betaken themselves to the neighbouring compounds, = aia y
cries of distress from various birds and squirrels, and, above all, I heard the seemingly plaintive mewing of
acat. I had no living specimen of the last in my museum; so, wondering what could be the pets went
into my garden to see. I found the mewing proceeded from my friends the Robins, who were furiously
attackmg something in a bush, whilst the birds and squirrels screamed in concert. There I found one of
the young Robins (whose plumage, by the way, at that early age, much resembles that of the European bird,
being speckled with yellow) caught, as I thought, in the tendrils of a creeper. I put out my hand to release
it, when, to my surprise, I saw the glittering eyes of the green whip-snake (7?imesurus viridis, Laceép.), in
whose fangs the bird was struggling. I seized the reptile by the neck and rescued the bird, but too late ; it
lay panting in my hand for a few moments, then fluttered and died. On skinning it, I found no wound,
except on the outer joint of the wing by which it had been seized, and am confident that fear alone deprived
it of life. A favourite attitude of this bird is, standing with the tail elevated over the back, either perpen-
dicularly or thrown so much forward as to nearly touch the head, the wings drooping ; in this position they
only utter a low note. During the dry season some of our birds become so discoloured with the dust of our
red Kabook soil, that they are useless as specimens for preserving.”

Latham states that this species “is one of those birds which are used when invoking the name of God —
a custom which those of India have borrowed of the Hindoos. Dr. Buchanan adds that at Calcutta it is
commonly called Doil by the Bengalese; in Persia, Dahool or Dahale, and there kept only for its song. It
makes an artless nest of sticks and hair on the branches of trees ; the eggs pale greenish blue, with brown
spots, most numerous at the large end.”

“This very sprightly bird,” says Capt. Boys, “frequents the trees and bushes of the gardens, and, like
the English Robin, carries its tail very erect, which gives it a bold appearance. It is very familiar, and has
a sweet note. Its food consists of insects; and it builds in the chinks and holes of walls, forming its nest of
small dry twigs and grass roots, and laying five greenish-blue eggs, blotched all over with brown, but mostly
at the larger end.

‘Specimens obtained at Sultanpore, December 8, 1839; and a nest at Almorah, May 28, 1842.”

Mr. Swinhoe says it is “a common resident” at Amoy.

The male has the head, all the upper surface, throat, chest, and u

pper portion of the abdomen steely
black ; wings dull black, with the exception of the upper rows of coverts and the margins of several of the
secondaries, which are pure white, formine

: 1 g a conspicuous stripe along the wing; three outer tail-feathers
white; the next on each side white, broadly margined on the inner web for five-sixths of its length from the
base with deep black, which is also the hue of the remaining tail-feathers, lower half of the abdomen and
under tail-coverts white; irides brown; bill and legs black.
| The female differs in having the upper surface dark grey, washed on the back with steel blue, the face
throat, and chest er ing’s i ;
ro nd chest grey, the wings brown, the white mark on the wing less conspicuous, the black of the tail
much less intense, and the white of the abdomen washed with greyish buff.

The Plate represents both sexes, of the size of life. The plant is the Thibaudia pulcherrima.

 

 

 
 
 

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COPSYCHUS MINDANENSIS.
Malacca Dial Bird.

Merle de Mindanao, Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. iii. p. 387.—Id. Pl. Enl., Pp. 627, he. 7.

Turdus mindanensis, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 823.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 353.

Copsychus mindanensis, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xvi. p. 139.—Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc.
Calcutta, p. 166.—Id. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. xx. p. 317.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i.
p- 267.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 278.—Moore in Proe,

Zool. Soc., part xxii. p. 282.—Sclat. in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, p. 186.
Lanius musicus, Raffl. Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xiii. p. 307.

Gryllwora magnirostra, Swains. in Lard. Cab. Cyc. Anim. in Menag., p. 291?
—_——+ intermedia, Id. ib., p. 291 ?

=. fosem, Id 1h. p, 342:

brevirostra, Id. ib., p. 292 ?

Mindanao Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. iii. p. 69.—Shaw, Gen, Zool., vol. x. p. 250.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. v. pe od.
Choche, Malay, Blyth.

Moorat or Moorai Kichou, Sumatra, Raffles.

 

 

‘Tus species, to which I have given the trivial name of the Malaccca Dial Bird, is the representative in the
Malaccan Peninsula of the Dayal of India; and if the above list of synonyms be correct, it will be seen that,
like that bird, it has attracted the notice of numerous ornithologists. Besides being a native of Malacca,
where it is common in the neighbourhood of Penang, it was also observed in Sumatra by the late Sir Thomas
S. Raffles, who gave it the specific appellation of musecus, a term which indicates that, like its near ally
(C. saularis), it is a beautiful songster. I have never yet seen examples of this bird from Mindanao or any
other of the Philippine Islands, nor do I believe that it is ever found there; Gmelin’s specific name of
mindanensis, therefore, is by no means an appropriate one.

As might be expected, the sexes exhibit the same difference in their colouring which occurs in the
C. saularis, the female having the upper surface of a lighter hue, and the throat and breast grey instead of
black.

The male has the head, all the upper surface, throat, chest, and upper half of the abdomen steely black ;
wings dull black, with the exception of the upper rows of coverts and the edges of the seventh and eighth
secondaries, which are pure white, forming a conspicuous stripe along the wing; three outer tail-feathers
white, with an oblique mark of black on the base of the interior web, small on the first, larger and occupy-
ing a part of the base of the outer web of the second, and greatly increased on both webs of the third; the
fourth feather black, with a white tip and a wedge-shaped mark of the same hue pointing backwards from
the white tip towards the base of the feather on the outer web; the remaining tail-feathers wholly black ;
lower part of the abdomen and under tail-coverts white; irides brown ; bill and legs black.

The female differs in the upper surface being less intense in colour, and in the throat and chest being grey
instead of black.

The Plate represents both sexes, of the size of life, on the Gordonia Javanica.

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

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COPSYCHUS SUAVIS, Seat.
Chestnut-bellied Dial Bird.

Copsychus suavis, Sclat. in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1861, pp. 185, 187.

 

Tue figures on the accompanying Plate represent both sexes of a species of Copsychus from Borneo, which
Dr. Sclater believes to have been without a scientific appellation until the Meeting of the Zoological
Society held in the evening of April the 23rd, 1861, when he assigned to it that of swavis, and made the
following observations as to its specific value :—

‘‘T have selected two examples of this pretty species of Copsychus out of a small collection of bird-skins
from Banjermassing in Southern Borneo, now in the hands of Mr. S. Stevens. Its nearest ally is that well-
known beautiful songster the Copsychus macrurus of India, from which, however, it is readily distinguished
by its larger size, shorter tail, and the three lateral rectrices (as well as the outer web of the next pair) being
wholly of a pure white. There are, however, blackish edgings at the base of the inner web of the second
and third pair in one of the specimens, which I take to be a male. In the other, which is probably the female,
these are absent, and the three external pairs of rectrices are wholly white, the belly is paler chestnut, the
plumage above more dusky, and the size smaller.” (Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for the
year 1861, p. 185.)

The male has the head, neck, breast, upper part of the back, and wing-coverts deep bluish black ; primaries
and secondaries dark olive-brown ; lower part of the back, rump, upper tail-coverts, the three outer tail-
feathers, and the external web of the fourth pure white, internal web of the fourth and the remaining tail-
feathers deep black; abdomen, under tail-coverts, and thighs rich chestnut-red; irides dark brown; bill
black ; legs fleshy red.

The female differs only in being somewhat smaller and paler-coloured than her mate.

The figures are of the natural size.

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

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MYIOPHONUS (ARRENGA) BLIGHI, Holtdsw.

Bligh’s Whistling Thrush.

Arrenga Blight, Holdsworth, Proc. Zool. Soc. 187 2, p. 444, pl. xix.

 

Tuis very well-marked species is an interesting addition to the group of birds included in the genus
Myiophonus or Whistling Thrushes, of which six species were previously known. They have each a some-
what restricted habitat, being found respectively in Java and Sumatra, the Himalayas, China, Formosa,
Java, and Southern and Western India; and the subject of our present notice is peculiar to the Island of
Ceylon.

The Whistling Thrushes have been separated by some ornithologists into two groups, to one of which,
containing four species all having the bill yellow, the generic name Myiophonus has been restricted, whilst
the others, distinguished by having a black bill, have received subgeneric rank under the name of Arrenga.
It is doubtful, however, whether this distinctive character is of sufficient importance to make the separation
desirable. Bligh’s Whistling Thrush belongs to the black-billed group, and is remarkable for being very
much smaller than any of the other recognized forms.

Little is known of the habits of this bird; but so far as they have been observed, they agree generally
with those of the other Myiophoni. It has only been met with on the hills, at an elevation of from 4000 to
6000 feet, where it frequents dense jungle in the neighbourhood of watercourses, appearing for a few
moments perhaps close to some foaming torrent, or occasionally alighting on a rock in mid-stream. It is
very impatient of observation, and when intruded on gives utterance to a peculiarly long-drawn plaintive but
loud whistling note; at the same time the body is dipped and the tail slightly raised. It soon seeks shelter
under the thick jungle-foliage. The natural note of this Thrush, when undisturbed, is very beautiful, and so
closely resembles a soft human whistle as to deceive any but practised ears. This bird is probably not very
rare in the localities it frequents ; but it is far more commonly heard than seen, and the type specimens
(here represented of the natural size) are the only ones known to have been brought from the island.

The species was described by Mr. Holdsworth in his Catalogue of Ceylonese birds, published by the
Zoological Society of London in 1872, and was named after his friend Mr. Samuel Bligh, who first observed
and obtained a specimen of it.

I trust that I duly appreciate the great kindness of Mr. Holdsworth in intrusting to my care this typical
and unique species of a Ceylonese bird belonging to a group claiming considerable intimacy with
Petrocinela.

The figures are of the size of life.

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

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MYIOPHONEUS INSULARIS, Goud.

Formosan Whistling-Thrush.

Myiophoneus insularis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 280.
Mytophonus insularis, Swinh. in Ibis, 1863, p. 277.

 

From the information which has been recorded by Mr. Jerdon and others respecting the species of the
genus Myiophoneus, we learn that they have many characters in common with the larger Petrocincle ; the
members of both genera give preference to rocky and sterile, rather than to the wooded, portions of the
country, stony torrents, waterfalls, and hill-sides being preeminently the situations resorted to by the
Indian members of the present form. Their song is a loud, clear whistle, not unlike, says Mr. Jerdon, that
of a man or boy. The sexes are alike in colour, and they do not materially differ in size.

At least four or five species of this well-defined genus are at present known, two of which inhabit the
hills of India, one China and the island of Java, and the fifth the island of Formosa. This  last-
mentioned species, which is figured on the accompanying Plate, differs from its Chinese representative in
its larger size, in the finer blue of its breast, and in the total absence of the spangled spots of shining blue
which ornament the back of that species.

“The Formosan Cavern-bird,” says Mr. Swinhoe, “haunts the dark wooded ravines of the mountains of
the interior, and seldom descends below the level of 2000 feet. Like the Chinese species, its favourite
position is a boulder of rock on the side of a torrent, whereon it stands expanding and shutting up its tail
like a fan, and occasionally throwing it slightly upwards. It is easily startled, when it runs rather than
hops over the surface of the rock, and flies off with a loud screaming note. Its song is short, but somewhat
pleasant. In its manners and habits it seems to connect the Thrushes and Petrocincle with the Pitte,
which also love the neighbourhood of mountain streams. The shape of its ear is most peculiar, and very
similar to that of the Henicur?, which are also cascade-loving birds. The specimens dissected usually
contained the remains of Coleoptera and their larvee.”

Lores jet-black ; forehead crossed by a narrow band of shining deep blue; crown of the head, throat,
back of the neck, all the upper surface, and the tail obscure blackish blue ; shoulders very bright metallic
blue ; primaries and greater wing-coverts margined externally with bright blue; feathers of the chest and
upper part of the abdomen black, with shining blue tips; lower part of the abdomen, thighs, under tail-
coverts, and the under side of the tail-feathers dull black ; bill and legs black ; irides deep brown.

The Plate represents the bird of the size of life.

 
 

 
 

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CALLENE ALB IVENTRIS, Furs.
White-bellied Callene.

Callene albiventris, Fairb., Blanf. in Proc. of Zool. moc., 1867,p, $82. pl. xxix.

 

My thanks are due to W. T. Blanford, Esq., for permission to figure in this work the present new bird, which
was obtained by the Rev. S. Fairbank on the Pulney Hills, «a lofty portion,” says Mr. Blanford, “of the great
range which stretches along the southern parts of the western coast of India, from the remarkable gap of
Paulghatcherry, which divides the range from the Nilghiri hills, to Cape Comorin. This fine tract of hill
country, about 150 miles in length and, in its northern portion, 60 to 70 miles broad, contains a very inter-
esting fauna having, as might be expected, close affinities with that of Ceylon, and also with that of the
Nilghiris, but still containing many peculiar forms. It has, however, hitherto been neglected in the most
remarkable manner ; and there is no portion of the Indian peninsula concerning the zoology of which so little
is known..... It is therefore not surprising that the first ornithological novelty which has been obtained
from Southern India since the publication of Dr. Jerdon’s list of the birds, in the years 1839-44, in the
‘Madras Journal of Literature and Science,’ should have been procured from the Pulney hills, a group 7000
feet in height, forming the north-eastern corner of the mountainous tract above described. It is very inter-
esting, however, to obtain from these hills a third representative form of the genus Callene (formerly Cincli-
dium) of Blyth, proposed first for a species inhabiting the Eastern Himalayas (C. frontalis, Blyth), and made
by Jerdon, undoubtedly with justice, to include a Nilghiri bird first discovered by himself (C. ruftventris,
Blyth). This distribution illustrates one of the most remarkable peculiarities in the fauna of Peninsular
India, .... Callene albiventris inhabits the thick patches of forest (called Sholas), which are so remarkable a
character in the hills of Southern India. It appears to be scarce. The eggs are of an olive-brown colour,
darker at the larger end, measuring 0°92 and 0°63 inch in their greater and less diameters. Mr. Fairbank
writes thus :—‘ The nest I found in a small hole (just big enough for it) in the trunk of a tree, a yard above
the ground. It was neatly made of moss and fibrous roots. I surprised the female on the nest several
times. She laid two eggs in April, and was incubating when I discovered and took them. In June
another nest was built in the same hole, and two eggs were laid, and then the bird bewall to sit... ..
The song is sweet, loud, and varied, though it is generally confined to four notes—sol, la, si, do.’ ’—Proc.
of Zool. Soc., 1867, pp. 832-834.

General plumage dull slaty black, suffused with a bloom of indigo-blue; over the forehead a narrow
line of very light blue, below which, and extending to the eye, is a line of deep velvety black ; under surface
similar to the upper, but paler and fading into white on the abdomen, whence the specific name; bill black ;
feet dusky brown; irides brown.

The Plate represents the two sexes, according to Mr. Fairbank, of the size of life.

 
 

 
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LIOPTILA ANNECTENS, Byrn.

Slender-billed Chat-Thrush.

Leioptila annectans, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xvi. p. 450 (1847).—Id. Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc. p. 337
(1849).—Jerd. B. India, ii. p. 248 (1863).—Godwin-Austen, J. As. Soc. Beng. xxxix. p. 109 (1870).

Cutia annectans, Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 314, no. 4690 (1869).

Lioptila annectans, Hume, Str. F. 1877, p. 110.—Id. Str. F. 1879, p. 104.

 

Tue present species has generally been considered a connecting link between the genera Cutia and Liothriz ;

,

and its name ‘annectans” shows that Mr. Blyth regarded it as joining these two groups together.
Although its exact relations were believed by him to be with Stbca and Yuhina, I myself think that its affinities
are more with the Chat-Thrushes or Zhamnodie, and that it is an eastern representative of the African genus
Cossypha.

The range of the present species extends from Sikhim to the Khasia bills, and in the Karen and
Tenasserim hills it is replaced by a slightly darker race which was called LZ. satwrata by the late Lord
Tweeddale. Of the latter bird Mr. Davison gives the following account :—‘I only found this bird at
Mooleyit, quite near the top, usually in pairs, sometimes singly. I found it generally about the large trees
surrounding the ‘ sakans’ or camping-grounds—strange to say, climbing about the trunk and branches much
after the manner of a Nuthatch. I have also seen it hunting about the leaves and smaller branches of the
tree-tops. Those I killed had eaten only insects. I never remember to have heard it utter any note. It
was very rare even where it did occur, and I only saw some six or seven.”

The following description is of a specimen kindly lent to me by Captain Wardlaw Ramsay.

Adult. General colour above rich orange-chestnut from the lower mantle downwards ; upper scapulars
black, the lower ones chestnut or bordered with black ; head, nape, and upper mantle black, streaked con-
spicuously with white, the feathers of the hind neck and mantle white on the inner web; lesser and median
wing-coverts black, the feathers edged with ashy-grey; greater series black tipped with orange-chestnut,
forming a wing-bar; bastard wing and primary-coverts black ; quills black, margined with pale lavender-grey,
the inner secondaries tipped with white, the innermost orange-chestnut near the base of the outer web ;
tail-feathers black, the centre ones fringed with ashy whitish, the ends pure white on the other feathers,
increasing in extent towards the outermost ; lores and sides of face and ear-coverts black ; cheeks and under
surface of body white, the flanks and under tail-coverts orange-buff; thighs ashy with whitish edgings ; under
wing-coverts and axillaries pure white; quills blackish below, white along the inner margin; “bill black,
the base of the lower mandible yellow; legs pale fleshy brown ; iris brown” (JExpon). Total length 6-5
inches, culmen 0°65, wing 3:1, tail 3-1, tarsus 0:95.

The figures in the Plate represent two specimens, of the size of life, from the above-named skins lent me by
Captain Wardlaw Ramsay.

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CONOSTOMA AMODIUM, Aedes.

Himalayan Conostoma.

Conostoma emodius, Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vol. x. p. 856.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc.
Calcutta, p. 101.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. ii. De ol2.

Jonostoma emodium, Cat. of Sp. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq.,
p. 102.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 368.

 

For our first knowledge of this curious bird we are indebted to the researches of Mr. Hodgson, who has
transmitted specimens from Nepaul to the Collections at the British Museum and the East India House.
It must be regarded as one of the rarest of the Indian birds, and also as one of the most interesting of the
numerous species it has been Mr. Hodgson’s good fortune to make known to us. Much diversity of opinion
exists among Ornithologists as to the place this bird should occupy in the natural system: Mr. G. R. Gray
places it among the Calle@atine, a subfamily of the Corvide or Crows, Mr. Blyth among the Parine or Tits,
while Mr. Hodgson inclines to the opinion that it has an affinity to the Glaucopine : for my own part, I
should have little hesitation in placing it in the subfamily of which Crateropus forms a part, although it does
differ considerably from that form, both in the structure.of the bill and the shape of the nostrils. With
such a diversity of opinion existing on the subject, it is only an act of justice to the original describer to
give his view in his own words :—

‘* Amongst the very numerous forms of birds,” says Mr. Hodgson, ‘‘ known to me as inhabitants of
Nepaul, there is one which I believe to be still new to science, and to belong to a group, of the occurrence
of which, either in these mountains or in the plains at their base, I know no other instance save that of the
ubiquitous tree Magpies. The group alluded to is the G/aucopine or Finch-billed Crows of Swainson ; and
the single species I am acquainted with tenants exclusively the immediate neighbourhood of the perpetual
snows. In the lower and central regions it appears to be represented by the Zimalie and Crateropi, to
both of which, and especially to the former, it bears in much of its structure the same close resemblance
that it does in its manners.

‘In manners the present species is a shy forester, adhering to the wilds and tenanting the skirts of
forests where brushwood as well as trees abound. Five or six birds are usually found together chattering,
hopping and scraping the ground, and resorting to the trees and shrubs chiefly for shelter. Their food is
principally insects of the soft and imperfect kind in summer, but in winter they doubtless take some vege-
table food. :

‘‘ Habitat, the northern region of Nepaul, close to the perpetual snows.”

The sexes are alike in colour, and may be thus described :—

The entire plumage dull olive-brown, paler beneath, becoming almost white on the forehead and nearly
black on the lores; irides brown; bill dull orange ; legs slaty-grey.

The figures are of the natural size.

 
 

 
 

 

 

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SIBIA ME LANOLE UCA, Tickeu.
Black-and-White Sibia.

Sibia melanoleuca, Tickell, MSS., undé

Stbia melanoleuca, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xviii, Pp. 413 (1859).—Gray, Handlist of Birds, i. DP: 273,
no. 4002 (1869).—Hume and Davidson, Stray Feathers, 1878, p. 293.

Stbia picata, Tickell, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxviii. p. 451.— Walden, Ibis, 1866, p. 355.

Malacias melanoleucus, Hume, Stray Feathers, 187 2. Oa.

 

Tus elegant bird was discovered by the late Colonel Tickell on the plateau of Mooleyit, in Tenasserim, at
an altitude of 6600 feet. It was first described by Mr. Blyth in the Asiatic Society’s Journal for 1859 ; and
immediately afterwards Colonel Tickell himself contributed a second description of the same bird under the
name of Sida picata, which of course cannot be allowed to stand. Colonel Tickell Says that “it was
evidently exceedingly rare, or confined to elevated peaks ; a pair only seen, of which the male was secured.
Lively and restless, with a prattling whistle like 8. capistrata. Incessantly hopping and flitting about the
stunted trees found at that altitude (6600 feet).”

Mr. Davison writes :—* This pretty Sibia was common about the higher parts of Mooleyit, especially where
the jungle was open. I found it very partial to the trees about the < Sahans,’ or camping-grounds. — Its
note resembles that of Sida capistrata, and is a single long-drawn clear-sounding whistle, sounding like
‘ whee-e-e e-00,' the ‘whee’ bemg very much prolonged, the ‘oo’ short and abrupt. When I was at
Mooleyit, the birds were breecing, and consequently were always found in pairs. Their food consists quite
as much of small berries as it does of insects, which latter they capture amongst the smaller branches and
the foliage of the tree-tops, in which they are always moving about. They never descend to the ground or
even amongst brushwood. I never saw them sitting sunning themselves on a bare branch, or catching
insects on the wing. They have a habit of rapidly expanding and closing their tail as they move about,
but without erecting it as a Leucocerca does. They are not at all shy birds; and there is not the slightest
difficulty in approaching and shooting them.”

Mr. Hume has added to the above note of Mr. Davison a capital description of the species, which I here-
with copy :—‘* The legs and feet varied from a very dark reddish brown to a dark purplish brown or
brownish black ; bill black; irides lake. The lores, forehead, crown, occiput, nape, cheeks, ear-coverts,
and point of the chin glossy black, with a faint greenish reflection, only the ear-coverts, in some Specimens,
with a slightly browner tinge; the rest of the chin, throat, breast, abdomen, and entire lower parts, including
wing-lining, axillaries, and lower tail-coverts, snowy white, a little pencilled with brownish grey in most
specimens towards the sides of the breast; the entire back, scapulars, and lesser and median wing-coverts a
deep, somewhat chocolate-brown ; rump and upper tail-coverts a dull, somewhat greyer brown; quills and
greater-coverts hair-brown ; the tertiaries and some of the later secondaries, towards their tips, with a more
or less decided chocolate tinge; all the feathers margined on the outer webs with black, which on the quills
has distinct though not conspicuous greenish reflections; tail brown; the central tail-feathers paler, and
with a sort of paler chocolate tinge ; the central pair narrowly, and each succeeding pair (the tail is very
much graduated) more and more broadly tipped with pure white, and all the feathers fringed darker ; in
some almost blackish on their outer webs just towards the base.”

The Plate represents a male and female of the size of life. The figures are drawn from the typical pair
kindly lent me by Captain Wardlaw Ramsay, to whom I beg to tend my warmest acknowledgments,

[R. B. 8.]

 
 

 
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POMATORHINUS ERYTHROCNEMIS, Gowa

Red-kneed Pomatorhinus.

Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 281.—Swinh. in Ibis, 1863, p. 286,

 

Attuouen the members of the genus Pomatorhinus extend from the Himalayas and China, through the
Indian Islands, to Australia, India is the country in which the greatest number of species has been
discovered. All those inhabiting Australia I observed to be somewhat gregarious in their habits, moving
about in little troops of from six to sixteen in number. T hey are noisy, active, and inquisitive birds, and
display many curious actions when among the branches of the trees. I believe there is little or no marked
difference in the colouring of the sexes of any of the species known. The new member of the genus
discovered by Mr. Swinhoe, and to which I have given the name of erythrocnemis from the red colouring of
its knees, is a mountain bird, and is confined to the primeval forests of the Island of Formosa. But I had
better give Mr. Swinhoe’s own remarks on the subject.

‘This species replaces in the central mountain forests the Pomatorhinus musicus of the lower country.
It rarely, if ever, descends to the ranges below an altitude of 2000 feet, and certainly never leaves the
gloom of the virgin forest for the partially wooded level of the plains. It enters upon its nidificatory duties
much earlier than its congener; for in April I procured a couple of full-fledged young birds. I have never
taken its nest, but had the good fortune to procure an egg which a female dropped as it fell wounded to the
ground. This egg is white, and quite in character with those I possess of the other species, but larger,
measuring 1-2 in. by 81. From its inaccessible haunts, I have not had many opportunities of watching the
habits of this bird; but, as far as I can gather, they resemble those of its ally. Its notes are, however,
harsher and less musical. Both species are entirely insectivorous, having no partiality, so far as I could
ascertain, for fruit or berries.”

A narrow bar across the forehead, knees, and under tail-coverts rusty red; lores and ear-coverts grey ;
crown of the head and back of the neck brownish grey, passmg into the deep rusty chestnut of the back,
shoulders, and external margins of the wing-feathers ; inner margins of the wing-feathers blackish brown ;
tail blackish brown, with rusty margins; a streak of black, commencing at the base of the under mandible,
passes downward to the chest, which is conspicuously spotted or rather blotched with black ; throat and
centre of the abdomen white ; flanks and upper part of the thighs rusty olive-brown ; bill much curved, and
of a blackish grey, with pale edges; legs leaden-grey; claws brownish ; irides light reddish brown.

“In the young bird the bill is much shorter and less curved, the head is browner, and the back and
upper parts more rufous ; but the under parts are dingier, and the colours generally not so bright as in the
adult.” (Swinhoe.)

The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Plocostemma lasianthum.

 

 
 

 
 
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XIPHORHAMPHUS SUPERCILIARIS, Buys.

Scimitar-bill.

Xtphirhynchus superciliaris, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. p. 175.

Xiphorhamphus superciliaris, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xii. p. 947. pl. at p. 1010.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in
Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 147.—Jerd. Ill. Ind. Orn., pl. 49.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 220. —
Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 238.

Pomatorhinus superciliaris, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 229, Pomatorhinus, sp. 7.

 

Tuar this rare and curious bird is very intimately allied to the members of the genus Pomatorhinus there
can, I think, be little doubt; Mr. Blyth, however, considers it to be sufficiently different to warrant its being
constituted the type of a new genus, to which he has given the appellation of Xiphorhamphus. Specimens
of this singular bird are contained in the Collections at the British Museum and the East India House, and
it is from the latter that I have been favoured with the loan of examples to figure in the present work. All
that is known respecting them is, that they are from Darjiling; but I suspect that low trees skirting the
great forests will be the kind of situations it frequents, and that in its actions it is restless and active,
hopping from branch to branch, or flying from tree to tree with a tremulous motion of the wings and out-
spread tail. Such at least are the habits of the members of the group to which I consider it to be
allied, as observed by me in Australia: whether these conjectures be or be not confirmed, it will be
interesting to ornithologists to receive an account of its habits from any person favourably situated in its
native country for observing and noting them.

I believe that no marked external difference will be found in the sexes, and that the young will very
closely resemble the adults.

Head dark dusky-grey, with an interrupted white superciliary stripe; upper surface rich reddish-brown ;
wings and tail rich silky-brown; chin grey; under surface rufous; bill blackish-brown ; feet dark brown.

The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Clematis smilacifolia of Dr. Wallich.

 
 

 
 
 

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TROCHALOPTERON PHCNICEUM.
Crimson-winged 'Trochalopteron.

Lanthocincla phenicea, Gould, Icon. Av., part i. pl. 3.

Trochalopteron pheniceum, Hodgs. Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds pres. to Brit. Mus., p. 83.—
Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 226, Trochalopteron, sp. 2.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. 1.
p. 372, Trochalopteron, sp. 2.—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. 1 p. 210.
—Jerd. Birds of Ind., vol. ii. p. 48.—Gray, Hand-list of Birds, part i. p. 282.

Garrulax pheniceus, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xii. p. 951; vol. xiv. p. 599.—Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus.
meray. Soc, Caleutta, py. 97.

Crateropus puniceus, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. p. 180.

Trochalopterum pheniceum, Blyth, Ibis, 1867, p. 5.—Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 436.—Bulger, Ibis, 1869, p. 164.

Tiljipha, Lepeh.

Repcha, Bhot.

 

Tus extremely beautiful species was originally described and figured by me in the first part of my ‘ Icones
Avium,’ published in August 1837. At that time nothing whatever was known of its habits and distribution ;
nor have we been much enlightened on these points up to the present time (1872), since a short note by
Mr. Jerdon, in his ‘Birds of India,’ and another by Captain Bulger, in ‘The Ibis’ for 1869, comprise
nearly all that has been recorded respecting it.

9

‘This richly plumaged Laughing-Thrush,” says the former, ‘is found in the South-eastern Himalayas,
and also on the Khasia Hills. It is tolerably abundant in Sikhim, and frequents the zone from 4000 to
about 6000 feet. A nest and eggs, said to be of this bird, were brought to me at Darjeelmg. The nest
made of roots and grass; the eggs three in number, pale blue, with a few narrow, wavy, and dusky
streaks.”’

‘Of this species,” remarks Captain Bulger, in his ‘ List of Birds obtained in Sikkim, Eastern Himalayas,
between March and July 1867,’ “I obtained several individuals. It was not rare at Darjeeling, though
apparently not found at quite so great an elevation as the station itself. I only saw it in the forests on the
upper slopes of the Little Rungeet valley; and the specimens procured by my shikaree were trom the
neighbourhood of Leebong, about 6000 feet above the sea.”

Mr. Blyth mentions, in his ‘‘ Commentary on Dr. Jerdon’s ‘ Birds of India’ ” (Ibis, 1867, p. 5), that
= Mir. Hodgson figures a beautiful compact nest” of this bird, “ bound round with long lanceolate leaves ”’;
and Captain R. C. Beavan, in bis “ Notes on various Indian Birds,” in ‘ The Ibis’ for 1867, remarks that
he obtained one specimen at Darjeeling in 1862.

In time, so finea bird as the Zochalopteron pheniceum will doubtless obtain the attention of those naturalists
who are directing their researches to the birds of the great Himalayan range of mountains ; and then, but

not until then, shall we know more of its history.

There appears to be little or no difference in the sexes.

Crown of the head, all the upper surface, and wing-coverts rich olive-brown ; feathers on the sides of the

head and over the eye margined laterally with black, forming a superciliary streak ; lores, ear-coverts, sides
of the neck, outer edges of the primaries, of the terminal portion of the secondaries, and of the longest
the secondaries black, internally and partially margined at the base with light grey ;
under surface olive-brown, paler than the upper and having a ruddy tinge ; tail and under tail-coverts dusky
black, each feather tipped with reddish orange ; bill black ; irides reddish brown ; legs livid brown.

tertiaries dull crimson ;

The figures are of the natural size.

 
 

 
 
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TROCHALOPTERON FORMOSUM, uv. Perr.

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Beautiful Trochalopteron.

Trochalopteron formosum, J. Verr. Nouv. Archiv. du Mus., tom. v. p. 35.—Swinh. in Proc. Zool. Soc., 1871, p. 372,

 

Tuts is another of the numerous ornithological discoveries made by the Pére Armand David in the neighbour-
hood of Moupin, in the interior of China, towards Thibet. It isa larger bird than the Zrochalopteron squamatum,
is a trifle different in colour, and has somewhat longer wings; still, I think, M. Jules Verreaux has rightly
placed it in the same genus. Mr. D. G. Elliot, who possesses one of the specimens procured by the Abbé
David, favoured me with the loan of it for the enrichment of the present work, and I thank him for his
kindness in so doing.

What is now required respecting this species is full information respecting its history, habits, and mode
of life, the kind of country frequented by it, and the difference, if any, in the plumage of the sexes, in which
latter respect, if we may judge from what we know of the other members of the genus, there will be none.

As M. Jules Verreaux has had opportunities of examining several specimens of this bird, I append his
description of the colouring instead of giving one myself :—‘ General tint olivaceous rust-colour ; head grey,
lanceolated with black ; throat and front of the neck of this last colour; a great portion of the wings and
of the upper surface of the tail blood-red; abdomen and vent olivaceous.”

Mr. Swinhoe remarks that two other species, also from Moupin, remain to be described.

The Plate represents the Z7ochalopteron formosum, of the size of life.

 

 
 
 

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TROCHALOPTERON AFFINE.

Allied 'Trochalopteron.

Garrulax afinis, Hodgson, J. A.S. B. xii. p. 950.—Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiv. p. 599.—Id., Cat. B. Mus. A.S. B. p. 97
(1869).—Gray, Cat. Mamm. &c. Nepal Coll. Hodgson, p. 83 (1846).

Pterocyclus affims, Bonap., Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 373.—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E. I. Co. i. p. 207 (1854).
—Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 283 (1869).

Trochalopieron affine, Jerd , B. Ind. ii. p. 45 (1863).—Id., Ibis, 1872, p. 306.

 

Wuy this very fine species should have received the name of gfinis I cannot attempt to say, as it seems so
very distinct. The only species which approaches close to it is 7. bly¢hi; and this is distinguished at a
glance by the absence of the white spot behind the ear, which is so conspicuous in the present bird.
Very little has been recorded of its habits; and at present we are entirely ignorant of its mode of
nidification. Dr. Jerdon observes :—‘‘ This rare species of Laughing Thrush may be said in some measure
to take the place in the S.E. Himalayas of the last (7° variegatum). It has been sent from Bootan, Sikhim,
and Nepal. I saw it in thick bamboo jungle between 8000 and 9000 feet of elevation, on the road from
Darjeeling to Tongloo; and I imagine that it only frequents the higher mountains.”

The last-named gentleman gives the accompanying description, which I copy from his ‘ Birds of India.’
Above rufescent olive-brown, more or less mottled with paler on the back; rump dingy greenish, and the
upper tail-coverts rufous ; sides of head, lores, cheeks, and ear-coverts black, occasionally this hue even
suffusing the crown; shoulder of wings and wing-coverts like the back; a jet-black spot on the primary-
coverts ; winglet and the outer margin of the quills pearl-grey ; those of the secondaries and some of the
tertiaries greenish yellow; the rest of the tertiaries and tips of the secondaries slaty grey; a broad white
moustachial spot, and one behind the ears also white: beneath, the chin is black ; the breast rufous brown,
the feathers edged laterally with grey ; the belly uniform faint rufous brown ; lower tail-coverts the same,
but darker. Bill black; feet reddish brown; irides brown. Length 102 inches, wing 4, tail 4%, bill at
front nearly %, tarsus 13.

Nestling birds, of which there are examples in the British Museum, are similar in colour to the adults,
the wings and tail being exactly the same as in the latter; they are, however, more uniform both above and

below, without any of the greyish edgings to the feathers.
The figures in the accompanying Plate represent the species of the size of life, and are drawn from a

Nepalese specimen given to me by Mr. Hodgson.

 
 

 
 

 
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TROCHALOPTERON VARIEGATUM.

Variegated Trochalopteron.

Cinclosoma variegatum, Vigors, P. Z.5., 1831, p. 56.—Gould, Cent. Himal. B., tab. xvi.

Piterocyclus variegatus, Gray, Gen. B., 1. p. 226.—Bp. Consp. i. p- 372.—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E. I. Co.,
i. p. 207.—Gray, Hand-L B.,, i. p. 283.

Crateropus vartegatus, Blyth, J. A. S. B., xii. p. 950.

Garrulax variegatus, Blyth, J. A. S. B., xii. p. 950.—Id. Cat. B. Mus. A.S. B., p. 97.

Trochalopteron variegtum, Jerdon, B. Ind.,i. p. 45.

 

I am somewhat surprised that, of aspecies described and figured by me in my ‘ Century of Himalayan Birds’
nearly forty years before, so very meagre an account should have been given as that by Dr. Jerdon in 1863 ;
but it is only since the publication of his ‘Birds of India’ that we have obtained any definite information
respecting the bird. The latter gentleman, in his supplementary notes to the above-mentioned book (Ibis,
1872, p. 305), writes :—‘‘I first obtained this species in the valley of the Sutlej, and subsequently in various
other parts of the N.W. Himalayas up to Kashmir, where it is common in summer in forests at from 8000
to 10,000 feet of elevation.”

Respecting its nidification Capt. Cock and Capt. C. Marshall, in their joint paper on a collection of eggs
made at Murree, observe :—‘“‘ The nidification of this Zrochalopteron was apparently unknown before. We
found one nest, on the 15th of June, about 20 feet up a spruce fir, at the extremity of the bough. Nest
deep cup-shaped, solidly built of grass-roots and twigs. The bird sits close. Eggs light greenish blue,
sparingly spotted with pale purple, the same size as those of AZ. castanea.”

In the lately published ‘Lahore to Yarkand,’ Mr. Hume figures his new Zrochalopteron simile, a closely
allied species ; and he remarks, in his article on the last-named bird :—‘* Nothing seems to have been recorded
as yet of the nidification of 7. variegatum. They lay during the latter half of April, May, and June. The
nest is a pretty compact, rather shallow cup, composed exteriorly of coarse grass in which a few dead leaves
are intermingled ; it has no lining, but the interior of the nest is composed of rather finer and softer grass
than the exterior, and a good number of dry needle-like fir-leaves are used towards the interior. The nest
is from 5 to 8 inches in diameter exteriorly, and the cavity from 3 to 3°5 in diameter, and about 2 deep.
It is usually placed in some low, densely foliaged branch of a tree, at, say, from 3 to 8 feet from the
ground; but I recently obtained one placed in a thick tuft of grass growing at the roots of a young deodar,
not above 6 inches from the ground. They lay four or five eggs. The first egg that I obtained of this
species, sent me by Mr. G. C. Buck, C.S., and taken by himself, was a nearly perfect, rather long oval, and
precisely the same type of egg as those of 7. erythrocephalum and T. cachinnans, but considerably smaller
than the former. In fact, had Mr. Buck not taken the egg himself, I could scarcely have believed that it
belonged to this species. ‘The ground-colour is pale, rather ding greenish pine; and it 18 blotched, spotted,
and speckled—almost exclusively at the larger end, and even there not very thickly—with reddish brown.
The egg appeared to have but little gloss. |

“Other eggs subsequently obtained by myself were very similar, but slightly larger and rather more thickly
and boldly blotched, the majority of the markings being still at the large end.

«The eggs vary from 1-07 to 1-16 inch in length, and from 0-76 to 0°82 in De |

The following description is from a Nepalese bird. I have not at present a antlicreraly large series to
decide on the specific value of 7. simile and T. Humei, which, though 20 eo fancies they may not be
distinct species, seem to me to be probably well-marked representative species.

Above olivaceous brown, with a slight tinge of greenish ; forehead washed with dull ochraceous; lores
and feathers round the eye extending on to the ear-coverts blackish 5 sides of face ochraceous, shading into
buffy white on the sides of the neck ; throat black ; chest grey, slightly washed with ochraceous 5 rest of
ander surface light ochraceous, deepening mto tawny rufous on the thighs and under tail-coverts ; flanks
shaded with olivaceous grey; under wing-coverts dull rufous ochre ; mye ioe wing-coverits olivaceous brown,
the greater series washed with rufous, the outer ones black, forming a conspicuous wing-patell; quills
blackish, externally grey, the primaries washed with orange on the outer web, all tipped with white at the
extremity of the latter; tail greyish, tipped with white, the outer feathers greenish yellow on the outer web,
the two centre feathers black for about half their length, this colour disappearing gradually towards the base

of the outermost and absent on the two external rectrices.
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TROCHALOPTERON CINERACEUM, Godwin-Austen.

Cinereous Trochalopteron.

Trochalopteron cineraceum, Godwin-Austen, P. Z.S., 1874, p. 45, pl. xi.

 

In the absence of any information respecting this bird, either with regard to its actions or its habitat, I
have really nothing to say respecting it beyond drawing attention to its varied markings and generally
pleasing contour. When we shall come to an end of these scrub-loving birds, such as Trochalopteron,
Garrulax, and others, no one can tell; for they increase upon us yearly, and to monograph them would not
only be a task of much labour, but would occupy a large volume; and they will do so, if the author of the
‘ Birds of Asia’ is spared to complete his work. Every new district and almost every additional thousand
feet of elevation afford situations for a new species, each of which has its own peculiar locality.

The habitat of the present bird is the Naga Hills, where it represents the Zrochalopteron variegatum of
the Himalayas. In size and colouring they are very much alike; but, as Major Godwin-Austen observes,
its ‘* yellow bill and much smaller and weaker legs and feet make it a very marked form of this genus.”

I copy the following description from the last-mentioned gentleman :—

‘‘ Above pale ashy olivaceous, greyer on the tail, which is black for 0°7" at the terminal end, then tipped
broadly white. Wing: quills pale black, edged hoary grey; the secondaries tipped black, and their square
tips edged white, in keeping with the tail. Primary coverts near the bastard wing black, forming a wing-
spot. Top of head black, extending in a narrow line down back of neck; lores and a broad band over eyes
and ear-coverts dingy white; a few pure white feathers below eyes merging into ear-coverts; a narrow
black line extends from posterior corner of eye over the ear-coverts, and a moustachial streak of the same
colour merges into indistinct spots. Chin white, with a few hairy black streaks ; breast and underparts
sullied white, with a slight vinous tinge on the former, and a dash of ruddy rufous on side of neck ;
ochraceous on belly and under tail-coverts.

‘* Bill pale yellow, shaded dark above ; legs fleshy brown ; irides pale ruddy ochre.

“ Length 8°75 inches, wing 3°22, tail 4, tarsus 1°25, bill at front 0°68.”

The figures are life-size, and are taken from the typical example.

 
 

 
 

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TROCHALOPTE RON VIRGATUM, Godwin- Austen.
White-eyebrowed Trochalopteron.

Trochalopteron virgatum, Godwin- Austen, P. Z. ., 1874, p. 46.

 

Here, again, ornithology is indebted to Major Godwin-Austen for presenting to our notice this new species,
which is marked by sufficient differences to admit of no doubt as to its specific distinctness. It belongs to
the plain-coloured section of the genus, and does not exhibit those striking contrasts of colour which are to
be noticed in Zrochalopteron variegatum, 1’. erythrocephalum, and their allies. I cannot help reiterating my
wish that we may soon come to an end of these “ Laughing-Thrushes,” as Dr. Jerdon calls them; but at
present there seems no likelihood of it, for species are discovered faster than I can figure them in my yearly
issue of the present work. With their discovery unfortunately we get little or no information respecting
their habits; and all that we know respecting the present bird is the following observation by its original
discoverer :—‘‘ I obtained a single specimen near the village of Razami, Naga Hills, under the Kopamedza
ridge, 5000 feet.”

The following is the description given by Major Godwin-Austen :—

“Head dark rufous brown, olivaceous on back, paler and greyer on rump; tail olive-brown, with a slight
tinge of rusty on basal half, finely and indistinctly barred; wing, first three quills grey on outer web,
the rest and secondaries pale ferruginous, merging into rich chestnut at their base; coverts of the latter
colour, narrowly tipped ochre; feathers of winglet conspicuously white-centred, and lores chestnut, a white
supercilium ; ear-coverts pale rusty; chin and throat rich dark chestnut; breast and abdomen bright
ochraceous ; under tail-coverts darker brown. As viewed from below, the tail is grey-brown, each feather
faintly tipped with white.

‘‘ All the feathers of the head, upper back, flanks, and breast are centred white or pale ochre, and those
of the head and neck are rigid.

‘ Bill black ; legs pinky grey; irides pale brown.”

The single figure in the Plate is taken from the type specimen kindly lent to me by Major Godwin-
Austen, and represents the bird of the natural size.

 
 

 
 

 

 

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TROCHALOPTERON BLYTHIL

Blyth’s Laughing Thrush.

Trochalopteron Blythu, J. Verr. N. Arch. Mus. vi. Bull. p. 37, Wi. p. 45,

 

Tuar the vast extent of country which we know under the names of India, China, and Malaisia is not
altogether covered with tropical forests is clearly evidenced by the number of brush- and scrub-loving birds
which form a conspicuous feature of the ornithology of those regions. The genera Trochalopteron, Garrulax,
&c. are all birds which inhabit these scrubby districts ; and wherever they are found, there is no family which
is so thickly represented as the Timeliide. All these birds are doubtless more or less insect-feeders, if not
entirely so; how vast, then, must be the swarm of insect life in those countries, and how wonderfully is the
balance of nature preserved !

The present species is the Chinese representative of the 7. afinis of the Himalayas, and was named by
the late M. Jules Verreaux after Mr. Edward Blyth, one of the first zoologists of his time and the founder
of the study of that science in India, where at the present time it numbers many votaries worthy to follow
the steps of so distinguished a pioneer.

I regret that at present nothing has been recorded respecting the habits of this species, but they doubtless
assimilate to those of its Himalayan congener. The following is a translation of the original description :—

“ Head black, the forehead shaded with dark grey; binder part of neck brownish rufous, becoming paler
on the mantle, where the feathers are bordered with olivaceous in the form of scales, which disappear on
the rump, the plumes being here very thick and lax. Upper tail-coverts uniform rufous maroon; the wing's,
which are very short, having the quills of a fine golden olive, the primaries externally bordered with greyish
white, while the innermost are of a dark leaden grey; a black spot, surmounted by a grey one, covers the
base of the primaries, the wing-coverts being coloured like the back ; the tail, which is long and ample, is
of the same golden olive as the wings for more than two thirds of its length, and terminated by the same
leaden grey as the wings; the shafts of all these feathers are black; a large white moustache covers the
cheeks, and an ill-defined greyish spot is observable on the sides of the neck, immediately behind the ear-
coverts. The whole of the fore neck, breast, and belly is clear reddish, strongly shaded with greyish—that
is to say, each feather is more or less bordered with this latter colour; the abdomen is more uniform
and becomes more and more of a reddish colour down to the under tail-coverts ; iris yellowish chestnut ;
tarsi brown; beak black.

‘The female in no way differs from the male, not even in size, and is similarly coloured. The three
examples which have served as the types of our description come from Western Szetchuen, where they were
procured in 1869.

‘Although at first sight this bird appears to have great affinity with the Trochalopteron affinis of Hodgson,
it is distinguished by its larger size, but still more by its having the head blacker, the sides of the neck not
so white, and especially by the less rufous coloration of the underparts of the body, which to this ule
species are bordered with a more whitish tint, and lastly by the scaly part of the back, which in our bird is
sensibly more marked than in 7°. affinis. 7 OO

«As regards the history of the species, Pére David, who has discovered it in Western China, informs us
that it is also found, and more abundantly, further to the west, in the wooded niounions of Moupin and
Kokonoor. It is more a frequenter of the elevated forests than 7. Elhoti, Pe habits and a it
otherwise almost exactly resembles ; its note is softer and sweeter and has a plaintive tone, which is quite

touching when heard for the first time.”
The figures in the Plate represent the species of the size of life, and are drawn from an example lent to

me by Mr. Swinhoe.

 

 
 
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TROCHALOPTERON ELLIOTIL v. rer.

Elliot’s Trochalopteron.

Trochalopteron Elliotii, J. Verr. Nouv. Archiv. du Mus., tom. vi., Bull. p. 36 & tom. vil, Bull. p. 44.—David,
Hid tom. vil, Bull. p. 6.

 

Tue Trochalopteron Elhoti, being a showy and interesting species, is well worthy of bearing the name of the
gentleman to whom it has been dedicated. Its native country is Northern China and the adjacent provinces
of Thibet, whence examples were brought to France, with other novelties from the same localities, by the
Abbe Armand David, from whose brief but interesting notes the reader will learn that it is a very familiar
bird, and commonly known to the inhabitants of its native regions. As neither myself nor any other
naturalist except M. David knows any thing respecting its habits and economy, I am sure I shall be excused
for transcribing what he has published on the subject, through the medium of my friend M. Jules Verreaux,
in the Bulletin of the seventh volume of the ‘ Nouvelles Archives du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris.’

Every author being naturally anxious to make known new discoveries in his own branch of science as early
as possible, I hasten to give a figure of this beautiful species in the ‘ Birds of Asia,’ feeling assured that the
accompanying illustration will be looked upon with pleasure by everyone. It will there be seen that its fine
but harmonious colouring must show conspicuously during flight, and add considerably to the interest of the
scenery of the surrounding brushes, as well as to that of the gardens of the inhabitants of Moupin, who appear
to regard it with favour, and to exempt it from molestation when it familiarly intrudes itself into their dwellings.

The following is M. Verreaux’s description and account of this species.

‘The general colour is of a greyish olive-brown, greyer upon the head; a great part of the feathers of
the head, neck, and breast are more or less terminated with silvery white ; numerous brown spots centred
with white, though scarcely visible, upon the neck and back; the long and soft rump-feathers are
uniform in colour with the body; the wing-feathers are black, with a large reddish-brown spot in the
centre, and are all bordered with pale greyish blue, those nearest the body more strongly tinted with the
same of a somewhat darker tint; the tail is reddish brown above, with the extremity of a pure white, less
extensive on the middle feathers ; their under surface is black, and the white tipping is more apparent; a
little black spot covers the lores and extends a short distance under the eye; a large red patch covers the
abdomen, thighs, and under tail-coverts; bill black ; irides pale yellow; tarsi of a light reddish brown ;
nails darker.

“The female differs in being somewhat less bright and smaller in size—a fact we have been able
to determine by an examination of five males and the same number of females received by the Museum from
the western part of Sse-tchuan, where M. Armand David found the bird to be very abundant, as well as in
the mountains of Moupin and Eastern Kokonoor. It is met with in small bands very generally distributed,
except in the plains, but less frequently in large forests than on the edges of woods, roads, and near
habitations. It is one of the most common birds of these regions ; and M. David has often seen them in
winter enter inhabited houses, and steal maize, either in ear or flour, even from the stoves. The people do
not molest them, any more than they do other small birds, preferring to forgive 4hem little thefts for the sake
of the pleasure afforded by their continued soft and melancholy song and their nvely Be elegant movements.
It is a sedentary species, and builds among the bushes a cup-shaped nest of oo which are deposited five
or six bluish eggs. Like the members of the genera Garrulax and Ptevorhinus, it ert takes extensive
flights, but flits rapidly from bush to bush in bands more or less numerous and noisy, and which are commonly
seen hopping on the ground in search of food.

“We have given the name of E/iotii to this beautiful species, Ee acknowledsment of the efforts made
every day by our clever colleague and friend, Mr. D. G. Elliot, in the interest of science. The numerous

works he has already published, and those in the course of publication, are proofs of the immense sacrifices

he has made for the development of natural history.”

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TROCHALOPTERON MELANOSTIGMA.

Tickell’s Laughing Thrush.

Trochalopteron melanostigma, Blyth, Journ, As. Soc. Beng. xxiv. p. 268 (1855).—Blyth & Walden, Birds of
Burmah, p. 108, no. 316 (1875).—Wardlaw Ramsay, Ibis, 1877, p. 464.—Hume & Davison, Stray
Feathers, 1878, vol. i. p. 291.—Hume, Stray Feathers, 1879, p. 97.

Pterocyclus melanostigmus, Gray, Hand-list of Birds, i. p. 283. no. 4192 (1869).

 

Tuts beautiful species of Laughing Thrush was discovered by the late Colonel Tickell in the mountains
of ‘Tenasserim, where he found it up to the vast wall-like crags of Mouleyit at a height of 7500 feet. It
has also been obtained by Mr. Davison in the same country; and Captain Wardlaw Ramsay met with it in
Karen-nee at a height of 5000 feet, where he found it very abundant. He writes :—* A native bird-catcher
snared more than a dozen for me one day in a few hours, besides specimens of Turdus sibiricus, T. pallidus,
Oreocinela mollissima, and Sibia picaoides, using as his bait the larvae of some insect. In some specimens the
ferruginous-chestnut colour of the throat and breast is continued over the whole of the lower surface.”

Mr. Davison’s note on the species in Tenasserim is as follows :—

“This species, except perhaps in the nesting-season, is always found in small parties of six or eight.
They feed chiefly on the ground, keeping much in the brushwood, rarely flying into trees unless pressed by
dogs; neither a very noisy nor very silent bird, uttering from time to time its fine whistling call, which
greatly resembles that of the species (7. erythrocephalum) that we get about Simla. By no means a shy
bird, and rather common on the hills from 3000 feet and upwards (not seen in the plains), and especially
so about Mooleyit. It keeps to the forest or its outskirts as a rule; but it sometimes at Mooleyit ventures
into the detached clumps of briars and scrub that stud the grassy slopes near the summit. All the
specimens I examined had fed exclusively on insects.”

The present species is very closely allied to 7. ruficapillum, like which species it has the cap chestnut as
well as the throat; but it differs from that bird in the following characters—the black primary-coverts
(which form a wing-patch), the black chin, the uniform hind neck and mantle—as well as in having the
ear-coverts ashy, streaked with black and slightly washed with rufous.

The following excellent description has been given in ‘Stray Feathers’ by Mr. Hume :—

‘« Males. Length 10:4 to 10°62; expanse 12:0 to 13:0; tail from vent 4:4 to 4:5; wing 4:0 to 4:2;
tarsus 1°5 to 1:6; bill from gape 1:2; weight 2°75 to 3:25 oz.

‘‘ Females. Length 9°85 to 10°75 expanse 11°62; tail from vent 4:0 to 4:5; wing 3:8 to 4:5; tarsus
1-45 to 1°65, bill from gape 1:2; weight 2°75 oz.

‘Lees, feet, and claws very pale brown to reddish brown; bill black ; rides brown or hazel-nut brown.

‘The lores and point of the forehead black; the rest of the forehead, crown, occiput, and a sort of
tail to the occiput descending onto the nape, bright ferruginous chestnut to deep ferruginous, almost
maroon chestnut ; cheeks, ear-coverts, sides of the occiput, and upper part of sides of the nape delicate
silvery grey, regularly striated longitudinally with dusky; feathers at the base of the lower mandible and
chin black, the former sometimes slightly streaked silvery; the black of the chin and of the feathers
on the base of the lower mandible shading into an intense ferruginous or ferruginous-red on the throat,
whence this colour extends, somewhat diluted, over the rest of the front of the neck. Most generally only
a trace of this extends onto the breast, but the birds are very variable in this respect, and in some
specimens this ferruginous, though less ruddy and less intense in character, spreads over the whole of the
upper breast, the middle part of the lower breast, and upper abdomen, and in one specimen before me
right down to the vent. Normally, however, the breast peo, sides, flanks, vent, lower tail-coverts,
tibial plumes are all a clear olive-brown or olive, the sides a little shaded with erey, and the middle of the
breast and its sides a little diffused with a paler, duller, and less ferruginous tinge of the colour of the lower
Of course, where the ruddy or ferruginous tinge is more extended, the amount of the olive is
The sides of the neck below the silvery striated face-patch, the back of the

neck.

proportionately contracted. oo & ob :
neck, and upper back are olive, sometimes greener, sometimes yellower, anc ae en rowner or
greyer; the rest of the back, scapulars, rump, and upper tail-coverts are usually the same colour, but
darker in shade and less pure in tint. The primary greater coverts are velvet-black, forming a conspicuous
patch on the wing; the earlier secondary greater coverts are red, ieee from ae ferruginous chestnut
to an almost orange ferruginous ; the rest of the coverts are olive; the quills are hair-brown; their outer

webs and the greater part of the visible portion of both webs of the tertiaries bright golden olive, in some,

 
 

however, with a decided greenish tinge, and the colour usually brightest and most intense towards the
bases of the primaries; the tips of the tertiaries and later secondaries more or less untouched with this
colour, giving the effect of rather irregular ill-defined black or blackish tippings. The tail is dark brown,
margined everywhere, and both webs of the central and the outer webs of the lateral feathers suffused with
a somewhat duller shade of the wing-colour, varying as this does from bright golden olive to dull greenish
olive-yellow. The wing-lining varies: when the red descends far on the breast, it 1s chiefly ruddy olive-
brown ; but in others, which show less red on the breast and abdomen, it is a pure olive or olive-hrowa,
some few of the longest feathers being like the lower surface of the quills, a dark glossy, somewhat blackish
hair-brown; the edges of the wing are white, yellowish, or ruddy in patches, varying a good deal in
different specimens.” |

The figures in the Plate represent a male and female of about the size of life; they have been drawn
from a pair of birds kindly lent me by Captain Wardlaw Ramsay. RBS

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IANTHOCINCLA OCELLATA.

Ocellated Tanthocincla.

Cinclosoma ocellatum, Vig. in Proc. of Comm. of Sci. and Corr. of Zool. Soc., part i. p. 55.—Gould, Cent. of Birds,
pi Xv:

Garrulax ocellatus, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xii. p. 951, vol. xiv. p- 599.—Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus.
Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 96.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 255, Garrulax, sp.—Gray, Cat.
of Mamm. and Birds pres. to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 82.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds
in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 205.—Jerd. Birds of India, vol. ii. part bp. 41-2): Ibis, 1872,
p. 304.

Crateropus ocellatus, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. xi, p. F79.

Janthocincla ocellata, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 371, Lanthocinela, sp. 1.

Lho-karreumpho of the Lepchas (Jerdon).

 

Tue present species is figured in my ‘ Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains,’ and is here repeated
to show the slight difference which exists between it and the Chinese Zanthocincla Artemisie. M. Verreaux
states, on the authority of the Abbé Armand David, that the latter differs from the former in having the spots
with which it is ornamented yellowish, and not white: but on reference to my fine specimens I find these
markings are not constant as regards colour ; for in some they are white, in others they are buff. Neither is
the colouring of the bill, which is also pointed out as a distinguishing character, to be depended upon ; still it
is darker in the Chinese bird than in its western ally. They are clearly representatives of each other in the
respective countries they inhabit.

The late Mr. Jerdon states that he had “seen no record of this handsome bird having been procured
elsewhere than in Nepaul and Sikkim. About Darjeeling it is not found below 8000 feet, and is most abun-
dant between that elevation and 10,000 feet.
with a fine loud clear call, which, when began by one, was immediately answered on all sides. It was feeding

99

He “saw it between Darjeeling and Tongloo in large flocks,

on various fruits and seeds.
“Captain Bulger mentions the fine clear and mellow notes of this bird, and says they sounded to him like

‘away, away, aweé,’ whistled in rapid succession. The birds not only (he says) answered one another, but
they replied readily to the imitation of this call.”

The following is Dr. Jerdon’s description of this bird :—“‘ Forehead, sides of the head, ea body above
reddish brown; top of the head and the front of the neck blackish brown; nape, back, wings, and upper
tail-coverts marked with white ocelli, black anteriorly; quills and lateral tail-feathers greenish dusky, with
white tips; outer webs of the middle quills grey, showing a grey alar band; lower wing-coverts variegated
with red, black, and white; beneath, the breast whitish rufous, with black bands; abdomen pale rufous ; bill
yellowish, dusky on the ridge and tip; legs dull yellow ; rides yellow brown.”

There appears to be little or no difference in the colouring of the sexes.

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[ANTHOCINCLA ARTEMISI A.
Allied Tanthocincla.

Cinclosoma Artemisia, David, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., 1871, 4th ser. vol. vii. p. 256.—Swinh., Proc. of Zool.
soc, 1878, p. 372.

Yantocincla Arthemisie, David, Nouv. Archiv. du Mus., tom. vii., Bull. p. 6.
Yanthocincla Arthemisie, David, ib. p. 4.

 

Tue Abbe Armand David has the honour of bringing this novelty to the knowledge of scientific ornithologists.
It is most closely allied to the Janthocincla ocellata; but as the difference in their colouring, though slight,
is permanent, they, like many other nearly allied species, have been distinguished by separate specific desig-
nations ; in what these differences consist, a glance at the figures of the two species in the respective places
will at once render apparent. How these slight differences arise we know not. The countries inha-
bited by the two birds are divided by a vast range of mountains, which neither of them presumes to cross,
but each strictly confimes itself to its own native districts.

Mr. Elliot was so good as to favour me with the loan of the fine specimens from which the figures in the
accompanying Plate were taken, an act of kindness for which, as well as for many others, my thanks are here
tendered to him. That there will be little, if any, difference in the habits and economy of the Lanthocincla
Ariemsie and I. ocellata I consider not improbable ; that they feed on insects, snails, and mollusks of the same
genera, if not of the same species, seems likely ; and that their thick clothing and the lax and silky character
of their feathers indicate that they live in thick and humid brushes will be plain to every one. ,

The men who make such interesting discoveries as the J. Artemisie are the invaluable ploneers of scien-
tific knowledge, to which I lend my aid by giving such representations of them as are contained in the ‘ Birds
of Asia.’ It will be for future generations to make us acquainted with their history, their actions, the nature
of their food, their mode of nidification, the number and colour of their egos, &c.; but this cannot be done
until the exclusiveness of the Chinese is more completely swept away, and the various tribes not under our
sway have become sufficiently enlightened to enable the scientific explorer to traverse those distant regions
with safety. At present the little we know respecting the J. Artemisie@ is contained in the following brief
note from the pen of the Abbe David, published in the Bulletin of the ‘Nouvelles Archives du Muséum
d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris’ above quoted.

“This species, which closely resembles the Yanthocinela ocellata, is distinguished at all ages by its darker
bill, by the spots on the back, which are yel/owish and not white, and by the blackness of the head, throat,
and round the eyes, which is very marked.”

The following is the Abbe’s description of the bird, which I give in his own words, as it was probably
taken from a recently killed example :—

“Head and a broad patch on the throat black, leaving the chin, lores, and under the eye buff-coloured,
and a partial half-eyebrow and a spot in rear of the ear-coverts whitish. Neck and underparts buff, a little
rufous near the edge of the black gorget; back of the neck, breast, and flanks banded on each feather near
its tip with an undulating black bar. Scapulars and. back as in I. ocellata, but with broader and yellower
tip-spots, and with much narrower black bars. Wings and tail as in its ally, but with the rufous more mixed

with yellow. Length 12°75 inches; wing 5, tail 65. Bill variable in length; iris yellow. Habitat

Moupin, Western Szechuen.”
The Plate represents the birds of the size of life.

 
 

 
 

 

 

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IANTHOCINCLA LUNU LATA, J. Perr.
Lunulated Ianthocincla.

Janthocincla lunulata, J. Verr. Nouv. Archiv. du Mus., tom. vi., Bulletin, p. 36, pl. 33. fig. 2

, et tom. vil., Bull. p. 41.
Yantocmcla lunulata, David, ib., tom. vil., Bull, p. 6.

 

One of the most pleasing traits connected with Janthocincla and the allied genera is the great diversity
which is displayed in their colouring and markings. Hitherto no species had been found exhibiting characters
similar to those which exist in the present one; hence its acquisition must have given great pleasure to its
discoverer when the first specimen fell to his gun ; nor could the gratification of being its first describer have
been less pleasing to M. Jules Verreaux, the veteran and excellent ornithologist of Paris.

The knowledge of the existence of this fine species affords additional evidence of the richness of the
Chinese avifauna ; and, judging from what we have seen during the short period that great country has been
thrown open to travellers and naturalists, a still richer harvest in the field of natural history may be reasonably
expected to be gleaned therein. That the Abbé David and our own excellent Consul, Mr. Swinhoe, may
long be spared and blessed with health and energy for the prosecution of their researches, must be the ardent
wish of every lover of natural science.

The following is M. Verreaux’s description of the Janthocincla lunulata, and the notes of the habits of the
bird furnished him by M. Armand David :—

‘“‘ Head and upper part of the neck dark olive-brown; the remainder of the upper surface of a light olive,
each feather having at the tip a black crescent bordered with yellowish white, not so conspicuous on the
rump, where the feathers are long and very tufted. Wings black, the primaries edged with light grey, the
secondaries with olive, and both tipped with white ; the lateral tail-feathers are light grey on the outer web
from the base, then black, and white at their extremities, less extensive upon the middle feathers. Face
pure white, mixed with light brown on the parotic region. Throat, front of the neck, and chest of the same
light brown, relieved on the latter by white edges; abdomen also light brown; flanks, vent, and under tail-
coverts olive-brown, with transverse bands of black. Bill light brown, yellowish at the base of the lower
mandible, irides yellow.

‘The male above described was killed in western Sse-tchuan on the 23rd of February, 1869, by M.
Armand David, who tells us that he subsequently found this species abundant and sedentary in the
woods of Moupin and eastern Kokonoor. According to our explorer, this bird resembles closely Janthocincla
Arthemisie and J. maxima in its voice and habits ; but it does not remain so much secluded in the centre of
the forests in winter, and descends lower into the valleys. It is also a sedentary species, and lives upon the
berries of the bay and insects, which it seeks by scratching up the dry leaves on the ground in the same way
as fowls and the other Janthocinclas. Although naturally wild and timid in the woods, it may easily be
tamed and brought up in a cage; but although its voice is loud and beautiful, its song is too short and
monotonous to render it desirable as a cage-bird. M. Armand David says there is a very slight difference
in the sexes, the female merely being a trifle lighter in colour.”

The figures are of the natural size.

 
 
 

 

 

 

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IANTHOCINCLA AUSTENI.

Austen’s Ianthocinela.

Trochalopteron Austeni, Jerd. in Ibis, 1872, p. 304.—Aust. in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xxxix, part ii. p. 105.

 

ScrENCE is indebted to Major Godwin-Austen for the discovery of this interesting species, which adds one
more to the numerous group of birds termed by Jerdon “ Laughing Thrushes,” and which are divided into
several sections, under the generic terms of Cinclosoma, Garrulaw, Tanthocinela, Trochalopteron, &c., the
characters of which have never been definitely defined ; and hence it is most difficult to determine to which
of them a new species, when discovered, should be assigned. The present bird is certainly more nearly allied
to the genus Lanthocincla than to any other ; and it is under that generic term, therefore, that I have figured it.
That all these birds must play an important part in the economy of nature in the countries to which they
respectively belong is very evident from the great numbers of the species and the wide extent of their range over
India, Nepal, China, the Philippines, Java, &c. As our knowledge of these birds becomes more extensive,
accompanied probably by the acquisition of many additional species, the entire group will require a more
careful revision than it has yet received ; and we shall then be able to ascertain whether or not they should all
be kept in the genus Garrulawx or under either of the other terms above mentioned ; at present the divisions
and the synonymy of the entire group are in a state of the greatest confusion.

The following is Major Godwin-Austen’s account of this species as given by him in the £ Journal of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal’ above quoted :—

‘This bird was pointed out to me as new by Dr. Jerdon, to whom I handed it over to describe ; he has
done so in ‘The Ibis.’ To complete here the account of the bird, I give a description as well. Above
rufous brown, greenish upon the rump; feathers of the tail and neck pale-shafted, most markedly on the
side of neck bebind the ear-coverts; under the throat pale brown, gradually speckled on the lower breast
with bars of whitish, each feather tipped with dark brown. The white bars increase in breadth towards the
belly, which is nearly all dusky white. Thigh-coverts olivaceous ; primaries black-grey, outer web rich rufous
brown ; wing-coverts same colour, finely tipped white ; secondaries also tipped white ; first four primaries
grey on outer web, gradually decreasing. Tail with two centre tail-feathers rich rufous; four outer termi-
nating in dark grey, tipped with white narrowly. Legs pale pinkish grey, strong in form. Bill black, short,
and well notched. [rides umber.

“Length 94 inches, extent 103, wing 4, tail 43, tarsus 1}, spread of foot 2, bill at front -63. Found
in underwood on Hengdan Peak, the principal Trigonometrical Station of Observation at the head of the
Jhiri river, at a height of 7000 feet ; generally seen in pairs, uttering a harsh croaking call, and answering
each other from time to time.”

And the following is Dr. Jerdon’s original description in ‘ The Ibis, also above referred to :— |

‘Head, nape, and sides of the neck rich rusty brown, each feather with a paler shaft ; back and uropygium
olive-brown, tinged with the colouring of the head, but devoid of pale shafts ; middle pair of rectrices and
outer edges of quills above deep rich ferruginous ; remaining rectrices dark brown, tipped with pure white,
the central pairs more or less edged with the colour of the middle pair. General colour of the under surface
of the body similar to that of the head, but each feather terminated by an alescent border and a penultimate
brown band, most prominent on the breast; ventral feathers almost entirely albescent, with narrow brown
terminal edgings ; under tail- and wing-coverts tawny ferruginous, the former meu ee
major wing-coverts and some of the tertiaries with terminal albescent me : Z F a0 fs
Wing 33, tail 42, tarsus lis, bill from gape 7. The pale central streaking of the head- and neck-plumage varies
in degree in each individual.” 7

The sexes in all probability will not be found to differ in colour.

The Plate represents the bird in two positions, of the size of life.

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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GARRULAX DELESSERTI, vera.

Delessert’s Garrulax.

Crateropus Delesserti, Jerd. Madras Journ. of Lit. and Sci., vol. x. p. 256.—Id. Ind Orn, pi am

————  griseiceps, Deless. Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 101.—Id. Souv. d’un Voy, dans I’Inde, tom. i. pt. ii. p. 29.
Garrulax Delesserti, Jerd. Birds of India, vol. ii. part tp 37

 

Lixe the Garrulavy gularis, this species Is rarely to be found in the museums of Kurope—a circumstance
somewhat surprising, since it inhabits a country which has long been known to Kuropeans and from which
numerous collections have from time to time been sent. It appears to evince a preference for hills of
moderate elevation to living in the neighbouring dense forests, and, like the Pomatorhini, moves about in
small troops, composed probably of the brood of the year and their parents. I believe that it is more shy
and retiring than the members of the genus Pomatorhinus, whose habit it is to show themselves in the more
open glades of the forest, and to attract attention by their peculiar actions. Its food doubtless consists of
worms, insects, and probably of animals of a higher order. Neither Mr. Jerdon nor Viscount Walden, who
shot it on the Coonoor Ghaut of the Neilgherries, have given us any account of its habits.

In his ‘ Birds of India’ Mr. Jerdon says :—‘‘ This is a somewhat rare bird. _I first saw it in the possession
of M. Delessert, who got it in the slopes of the Neilgherries ; and I afterwards procured it in the same
locality at an elevation of about 3000 feet. I also saw it several times in the Wynaad, associating in large
flocks, wandering about the underwood and bamboos, and occasionally uttering a chorus of peculiar, but
clear, chattering notes.”

I suspect that the sexes are very similar in plumage; but even this has not been stated ; and it is much
to be regretted that so little has been recorded respecting the bird, its habits, and economy.

Head and nape dark greyish brown, inclining to black; upper surface generally dark reddish brown,
becoming brighter or more rufous on the rump and upper tail-coverts, and darker on the primaries and
secondaries ; tail very dark or blackish brown ; chin, throat, neck, and breast white, gradually blending into
the grey of the upper part of the abdomen and flanks; lower part of the abdomen, vent, thighs, and under
tail-coverts deep rusty red; upper mandible dark brown; under mandible yellow; irides dull red; legs
flesh-colour.

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GARRULAX GULARIS.

Yellow-throated Garrulax,

Lanthocincla gularis, McClell. Proc. Zool. Soc., part vii. (1839) p. 159.
Garrulax gularis, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xii. p. 949, vol. xiv. p. 598.—Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat.

Soc. Calcutta, App. No. 6, p. 337.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East. Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 203.
Crateropus gularis, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. p. 179.

 

Tue first notice of this rare species of Garrulax is recorded in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society
of London’ for the year 1839, when the late Dr. Horsfield communicated a list of the Mammalia and Birds
collected in Assam by John McClelland, Esq., Assistant Surgeon in the East India Company’s service, and
one of the members of a deputation which had been sent into that country for the purpose of investigating
the nature of the Tea-plant. On the return of the deputation to Calcutta, says Dr. Horsfield, Mr. McClelland
transmitted his collection of Mammalia and Birds, accompanied by a descriptive catalogue and drawings of
many subjects, to England, where they arrived safely, and are now, with few exceptions, prepared and exhibited
in the India Museum. The specimen of the present bird contained therein and one in my own collection,
kindly presented to me by Mr. Jerdon, are probably the only ones in Europe. It is not in the National
collection, neither is it included in Mr. Blyth’s ‘Catalogue of the Birds in the Museum of the Asiatic
Society at Calcutta.” Although nearly allied to Garrulav Delesserti, G. pecilorhynchus, and G. cerulatus, it
offers a striking contrast to those birds in the bright yellow colour of the throat and chest.

Whether there be or be not any difference in the colouring of the sexes, the paucity of information we
possess respecting the species, and the scanty nature of the materials at our command, do not enable me to
say. In all probability the male and female will be very much alike in external appearance, as we know is
the case with some other species of the genus.

Crown of the head, nape, sides and back of the neck, and shoulders dark slate-grey; lores black; chin
and throat bright yellow, separated from the grey of the sides of the head and neck by an obscure stripe of
black ; back and wings deep reddish brown, becoming paler or more rufous on the upper tail-coverts ;
central tail-feathers brownish black, lateral ones rufous; sides of the chest and upper part of the flanks
grey ; centre of the abdomen buffy yellow, gradually blending with the rufous of the lower part of the flanks,
abdomen, vent, thighs, and under tail-coverts ; bill black ; legs and feet yellow.

The figures are of the size of life. The plant is the Tamarindus officinals.

 

 
 
 
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GARRULAX RUFICEPS, Gowa

Red-crowned Garrulax.

Garrulax ruficeps, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 281.—Swinh. in Ibis, 1863, p. 282.

 

*

Turee or four species of Garrulaw, with white crests or white throats, inhabit the higher regions of India;
these are the G. Jeucolophus of the Himalayas, its near ally the G. Belangeri of Tenasserim, and the still
more nearly allied G. albogularis. This section of the genus finds a representative in the island of Formosa,
in the present bird. All these large and conspicuously marked species present little, if any, difference in the
colouring and size of the sexes; and move about the forests in small troops, in search of insects, which,
with their larva, and berries constitute their principal food.

Speaking of the Garrulax ruficeps of Formosa, Mr. Swinhoe says, “This species frequents the central
wooded range of mountains, and very rarely descends to the lower hills that flank the Chinese territory. I
never met with it alive, and my hunters only succeeded in procuring a single pair. It differs entirely from
all the Eastern-Asiatic species of Garrulaw, but possesses many characters in common with the G. albogularis,
from Bootan and Mussoorie, in India.

‘“‘Lores, space round the eye, and chin black; crown of the head bright rufous; cheeks light rufous olive ;
upper surface brownish olive ; wings hair-brown, broadly margined with olive, the tertiaries being almost
entirely of that colour; tail rich olive-brown, greyer on the two unspotted middle feathers, the next one
has a whitish mark at the tip, the third a broad white mark, which increases in size until, on the lateral
feathers, it is one inch and four-tenths deep; throat and lower part of the neck pure white; centre of the
belly less pure; flanks, axillaries, and thighs buff; vent pale buff; under sides of the shafts of the primaries
and tail-feathers whitish ; under edges of the inner quills rufescent; bill black; legs, toes, and claws light
flesh-brown.

“In the pair I possess, there is scarcely any difference as to size or colour.”

The figures are of the size of life.

 
 

 
 

 
 

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GARRULAX PCECILORHYNCHA, Gow.
Black- and Yellow-billed Garrulax.

Garrulax pecilorhyncha, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 281.
pecilorhynchus, Swinh. in Ibis, 1863, p. 283.

 

How different in character must be the trees and forests of Southern Asia from those north of the great dividing
ranges ! and how different must they be from the trees and forests of Europe and of England ! for in neither
of the countries last alluded to have we any member of this particular form; and, on the other hand, none
or scarcely any of the true Thrushes are found in those inhabited by the members of the genus Garrulaz,
whose structure and thick plumage is so admirably adapted for the peculiar kind of vegetation amid which
they are destined to dwell. These gregarious birds also exhibit many peculiarities in their habits and eco-
nomy, and are said to be very garrulous and noisy, constantly pouring forth the loud laugh-like notes by
which they may be distinguished from all the other birds of the forest.

“This,” says Mr. Swinhoe, “is a commoner bird in the forest-ranges near Tamsuy than the G. ruficeps ;
like that species, it never descends to the lower unsheltered hills. It is a noisy, chattering species, assem-
bling several together in the underwood, and keeping up an incessant jabbering, with frequent loud discord-
ant cries interspersed. It is sly and vigilant, and tries to elude observation, generally escaping from the
opposite side of the bush it is in, with short flights to the next, and so retreating from approach. In the
G. ceruleatus, from Nepaul, we have a close representative of this species, with similar brown upper plumage
and a scaly head; but that bird is readily distinguished from the G. pecilorhynchus by the whiteness of its
under surface.”

Crown of the head, nape, back, rump, throat, and chest deep rusty brown ; orn of the feathers of the
crown slightly fringed at their tips with black, a hue which is also observable on the tips of the ear-coverts ;
reddish brown on their inner webs, the external edges of the former light grey,

primaries and secondaries
tail deep rusty chestnut, particularly the six central feathers, the

and of the latter deep rusty chestnut ;
ker, having less of the chestnut hue, and becoming lighter and of a reddish fawn-colour

barred with a shade of brown, distinctly
abdomen and thighs deep

remainder being dar
towards their tips; ‘these feathers are moreover obscurely
when the feathers are new, but the bars almost entirely fade away with wear ;
blue-grey, tinged on the latter with rufous; under tail-coverts fawm-colois basal portion of the bill gromn
black, the apical portion bright ochre-yellow, with a greenish tinge ; legs brownish grey, with light brownish

soles and brown pads ” (Swinhoe).
The sexes are alike. The figures are of the natural size.

 

 
 

 
 

 
   

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GARRULAX GALBANUS, Godwin-Austen.

Black-chinned Garrulax.

Garrulax galbanus, Godwin-Austen, P. Z.5., 1874, p. 44, pl. x.

 

Tuts species is intimately allied to Garrulax gularis, figured by me in the present work; the general style
of colouring is the same, and these two yellow-breasted species stand out conspicuously as regards the latter
character from the other members of the genus. The present bird is the smaller of the two, and differs in
its black chin and white-tipped tail-feathers, to say nothing of the white under tail-coverts, grey forehead,
and other minor characters. One would wish that such tangible differences as these would occur more
frequently in this genus.

It will be noticed that this is yet another of the discoveries of Major Godwin-Austen, whose courtesy in
lending me so many of his novelties I have great pleasure in acknowledging. He gives the following
account of the species :—

“T first obtained this very handsome bird in the Munipur valley, under the Koupru range, in February
1873. It associates in large flocks of from fifty to eighty or more, very noisy, following each other in a long
string through the high grass, which they seem to frequent and prefer to the denser forest. When on the
flight their white tail-feathers and under tail-coverts make them very conspicuous. I observed it also on
the headwaters of the Barak and other streams that flow into the Munipur valley on the north-east.”

I append also the original description by this gentleman.

« Above pale pure olivaceous on the head, with a brown tinge on the back; tail pale ashy brown, the
four central feathers tipped umber-brown and _ barred, the four outer of the same colour in middle and
broadly tipped with white; wing concolorous with back ; quills pale umber-brown, edged grey. Very
andible, lores through eyes and ear-coverts rich black; beneath

narrow frontal band; base of lower m
dull yellow, purer on the throat, passing into olivaceous on the flanks; under tail-coverts white.

« Bill black; legs ash-grey; irides red-brown. 7

“Length 9 inches, wing 3°65, tail 4:1, tarsus 1°35, bill at front 0°8. |
en from the specimen lent me by Major Godwin-Austen.

The figures are of the natural size, and are tak

 

 
 

 
 

 

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GARRULAX PICTICOLLIS, Swina.

Grey-banded Laughing Thrush.

Garrulax picticollis, Swinhoe, P. Z. 8., 1872, p. 554,

 

As is often the case with the birds of China and India, the present species is a close ally and representative
form of G. monilger of the Himalayas. It is about the size of that species, but differs in having the tail
tipped with reddish ochre instead of white, and in having a grey pectoral gorget.

This new Garrulax is one of the most recent species described by Mr. Swinhoe; but it has existed
previously in European collections, for the British Museum has had for years a specimen designated by the
late Mr. G. R. Gray as new to science, but no name was ever published ; and curiously enough, no sooner had
the bird been described, than a living specimen arrived in the Zoological Gardens.

We know little of the habits or economy of G. picticollis. Mr. Swinhoe states that the stomachs of the
specimens dissected contained smooth caterpillars, grasshoppers, seeds, and pulp of fig-like berries.

I reproduce the very complete description of the species given by the same gentleman (J. c.) :—

‘‘Loral region, extending into a streak over the eye, and a broad mark under eye, throat, and middle of
the belly white ; cheek black, spotted with white ; a black line from behind eye and another from base of bill
meet round the ear and extend in a broad band down side of neck, nearly meeting on breast, where it is
broken by buff feathers, which are only tipped with black ; upper parts yellowish olive-brown, rufous on the
back of the neck and hind edge of the necklace ; sides of the breast and belly robin-rufous, paler on the tibize
and vent. Wings coloured like the back ; the primaries and secondaries with their inner webs blackish brown,
the outer webs of many of the former olive-buff near their tips, otherwise margined with dark olive-brown ;
axillaries buff, with a few black spots on the carpal edge of wing, and dark primary Woe under wing
whitish, tinged with buff. Tail of twelve feathers, the centrals coloured as the back, with indistinet bars of
deeper shade; the fifth pair similar, but with reddish ochre tips, the remainder with broad oblique black
band, very broadly tipped (one inch and more) with rufous buff.

“The above description is taken from an adult female procured near the end of November 1871. The
fresh bird measured, length 123; wing 5:4, the first five quills graduated, oth, 6th, and 7th equal and
longest, 8th a little shorter ; tail 5:75, outermost feather 16 the shortest, outer five graduated, the fifth and
centrals equal ; tarse 1:9, Upper mandible and broad tomial edge of lower ao a ae : oe
horny, tinged with bluish; rim of eyelid blackish grey ; iris chestnut ; inside of mouth black ; legs leaden,
with paler claws.

‘‘ Another female, apparently younger than the | ae
inside of mouth dark green, with flesh-coloured tongue ; rim of eyelid tinged

ast, has the necklace deep bluish grey shaded with black

where it crosses the breast ;
SG. tare oo

with yellow. Length 12-9; wing 5:2; tail 5°6; tarsi 2°.

: : of the male sex, has the inside of mouth orange-yellow ; rim of eyelid the

aa oe ast, the imtermediate feathers not

same; necklace mixed with much bluish grey and widely broken on ne
tipped with black ; underparts light.

“The greater or less amount of black and grey in the ters
than to sexual difference or to age.”
The figure is taken from a skin lent to me by Mr.

seems due to individual variation, rather

Swinhoe, and represents the bird of the size of life.

 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
  
 
    
 

 
 
 

 
 

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GARRULAX CHINENSIS,

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GARRULAX CHINENSIS.

Chinese Garrulax.

Lanius chinensis, Scop.

Turdus shanhu, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i.
—— melanopsis, Gmel. ibid. p. 1829.

Corvus auritus, Daud. Orn., tom. ii. p. 250.—Swinh. in Ibis, 1865, p. 350.
Crateropus leucogenys, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. p. 180.
Garrulax shanhu, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 225,

p. 84.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 337.

tin oe Garrulax, sp. 2.
———— chinensis, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xiv. p: 698.—~Id. Cat. of Hades in Mus. Asiat. Soe.
Bengal, p. 95.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 370, Garrulaz, sp. 4.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of

Birds in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 202.—Gray, Hand-list of Birds, part i. p. 202.—Swinh.
Ibis, 1864, p. 423.—Id. Proc. of Zool. Soc. for 1871, p. 371;

Le petit Geay de la Chine, Sonn. Voy. aux Ind. Orient. &c., tom. ii.
Le Geai & joues blanches, Levaill. Hist. Nat. des Ois. de Parad. &c., tom. i. p. 125, pl. 43.

Black-faced Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 37.—Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. x. part i. p. 292.—Lath.
Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 112.

Shanhu of the Chinese, Lath.

 

A rive example of this interesting bird having lived for two or three seasons in the menagerie of the Zoo-
logical Society of London, I did not fail to make a drawing of it, such an opportunity of figuring from life
rarely occurring with respect to insessorial birds which are natives of the distant country of China. And here
it will not be out of place to allude to the value of the above-mentioned Society from the interest it affords to
the artist and the naturalist, as well as to the public at large, by furnishing them with opportunities of studying
the habits, so far as they are shown in a state of captivity, of the various animals it may from time to time
possess: to the zoological artist, indeed, it is of incalculable benefit, inasmuch as, however well he may be
able to depict a species from its dried skin, it must of necessity be far better executed from the living object.
The following notice, by Mr. R. W. G. Frith, of a specimen of this bird in confinement is given by Mr. Blyth
in the ‘Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,’ vol. xii. p. 179 d¢s:—‘* The bird was excessively tame
and familiar, and delighted (like a Cockatoo) in being caressed and tickled by the hand, when it would
spread out its wings and assume very singular attitudes. It was naturally a fine songster, and a most uni-
versal imitator. Whenever chopped meat or other food was put into its cage, it always evinced a propensity
to deposit the bits one by one between the wires (a habit it has in common with the Shrikes, and which is also
strikingly manifested by the Av¢ta venatoria and sometimes even by Mynahs); and when a bee or wanp was
offered, this bird would seize it instantly, and invariably turn its tail round and make the insect sting, this
several times successively, before eating it. A large beetle it would place before it on he ground, and
pierce it with a violent downward stroke of the bill; a small snake (about a foot long) it treated in
like manner, transfixing the centre of the head; it afterwards devoured about Je ue snake, holding it
by one foot, while it picked it with the bill, which was its common mode of feeding. 7 .
Mr. Swinhoe, in his Notes on the Birds of China, remarks :—‘‘In the Hong-kong bird-shops I saw in

ith it wild, < its range is south of Canton.”
cages Garrulaw chinensis. 1 have never met with it wild, and therefore fancy its rang

In his notes from Takow, Formosa, the same gentleman says :— ; :
: ‘ : aus . i : Ds. t seems to range trom
‘© This bird I purchased alive and sent to Dr. Squire for the Society's Garde g

the extreme south of China to the Tenasserim Provinces, where Mr. Blyth procured it. I have never met

: ie Iso emits a loud
with this fine species in a state of nature. Its ordinary call is like a corvine croak. It a

note like ‘hurrah,’ often repeated in a low whistle. It was very lively and a cage tee
“Bill black; legs and claws brown ; irides crimson. Forehead, and a s of crest a : ae

culmen, black, a streak of which colour also encircles the eye, and a patch of the same occurs 7 1e roa . :

under the neck ; just in the rear of the frontal crest ue a few pointed — ae es oes

white patch on each cheek ; the general plumage is cinereous 5 back, wings, and tal ae ,

the two latter, with deep-coloured shafts, quills edged with ee ge = i =. ee
The Plate represents the bird in two positions, ee —

fence in the sexes.

 

  
 
  
    
   
  
   
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
 
 
   

 
 
 

 
 

 

 

 

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PTERORHINUS DAVIDI,

Pere David’s Pterorhinus.

Pterorhinus Davidi, Swinh. in Ibis, 1868, D> Ol

~ nN 1 » ne ° » TanY 2 e .! 2 z © ° . . .
SOME time during the year 1869, Mr. Swinhoe placed in my hands a skin of the bird which forms the subject

of the accompanying drawing, and stated that it was an inhabitant of China and that he had dedicated it to
the Abbe Armand David, a gentleman who with much credit. to himself has paid great attention to the orni-
thology of that part of the « Celestial Kimpire” in which he is located ;

and it affords me much pleasure to
extend the scientific reputation of this worthy French priest by g

iving a representation, in the present work,
of the highly curious bird named in his honour.

I have, of course, nothing to communicate of my own knowledge respecting Pére David’s Pterorhinus, and
must therefore avail myself of what has been placed on record by Mr. Swinhoe in ‘ The Ibis’ for 1868, p. 60,
which I append below. The bird appears to me to be a Crateropine form, the habits and economy of which
will probably assimilate to those of some of the species of that group which frequent the low forests and
brushy coverts of the sterile portions of India; but this is merely a surmise, and one which may not prove
to be correct.

“On the 25th of June, 1867,” says Mr. Swinhoe, “I received a letter from the Abbé David, enclosing
two bird-skins. The Abbé writes :—‘Je profite de Pobligeance de M. Conolly pour vous envoyer deux peaux
(oiseaux 5 c’est tout ce que j'ai maintenant de disponible. Votre Pomatorhinus stridulus est fort abondant
et sédentaire dans nos montagnes, de méme l'autre oiseau que je vous envoie et dont je vous prierais de me
faire savoir le nom. Ce dernier habite les mémes_ localités que le Pomatorhinus et en a les mémes
habitudes.’

‘« These two birds were quite distinct from any thing Chinese that I had seen before; and I wrote to the
worthy priest for permission to describe them. M. David’s permission, dated Peking, 31 July, 1867, I
received on the 4th of September. The so-called Pomatorhinus belongs, in my opinion, to the Timahine.
At a first glance you might pronounce it to be a plain-coloured Pomatorhinus ; but on second inspection you
notice its feathered and bristled nostrils. ence, what should it be a member of but a new genus ? which I
propose to style Pterorhinus. | .

“The type of this genus m the shape of the bill approaches Pomatorhinus ; in the clothing of its Reatrals
it is an exaggerated Garrulaw ; in the sober uniformity.of its coloration it resembles MZalacocercus, and in
the comparative slenderness of its legs and feet exceeds Leucodiopterum.”

In some notes with which Mr. Swinhoe has recently favoured me, he says :—

« This species forms a connecting link between the plain-coloured Crateropoding of os and the ae
billed Pomatorhini of Asia. It was discovered among the hills near Peking, by the Abbe Armand David
(after whom I have named it), Missionary of the Lazarist Mission, and is noted in as ‘ Catalogue of Chinese
Birds’ as Pomatorhinus stridulus, with the remark that ‘it 1s common and resident in our mountains 3 cries

- | oe | 68, I noticed that these birds
and sings at all seasons.’ On my visit to the mountains, In the autumn of 1868, é

. . no Thus anderine in-small parties from bush to bush
had many of the habits of the South-China Song-Thrush, wandering in-small pé ae |
on the sides of the hills, hiding among the leaves and chattering to each other, a male occasionally isolating

: . oa
himself and pouring forth a well-sustained song.
The following is Mr. Swinhoe’s description of this rare species :— /
ny or basal half of each feather bluish grey, a short superciliary

General plumage amber-brown ; the dow
= frontal feathers are edged with the same colour ;

mark of brownish white passes over each eye, and some of the ee
cheeks and under neck pale ; abdomen, tibiae, and under tail-coverts deep 2a mers ar : | — ;

. ‘bial feathers whitish: chin black, giving out divergent black vibrisse ; near the symphysis of the
of the tibial feathers whitish ; chin black, giving

nal chs eatbers are inclined to whitish
‘ He cle Qacdi. % low the black chin-spot the feathers <
lower jaw a few small whitish feathers occur, and belo |

: ; i niddle feathers deepening
: . oe ae . tail umber-brown, on the two n g
grey; quills brown, edged with greyish white ; tail ;

faint cross bars appear; the other rec at ae
nish on the upper mandible, except at 1s edges ; legs and claws (of the
‘bed in pencil «12 April, 1867; Pekin, fem. adult.”

: trices blackish brown; bill (in the dried
towards their tips, where

specimen) pale ochreous yellow, brow
same specimen) liver-brown. On the ticket was Insct
Iris clear brown.

The figure is of the natural size.

 
   
    
  
  
    
  
   
  
  
  
   
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
   
   
  
  
 
   

 
 
 

 
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 ACTINODURA EGERTONIL, Gow.

Egerton’s Actinodura.

Actinodura Egerton, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part iv. 1836, p. 18.—Gray, Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm.
and Birds pres. to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 84.—Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 226,
Actinodura, sp. 1.—Fras. Zool. Types pi 40.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc., Calcutta, p. 98.
—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 373.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp.,
vol. 1. p. 212.—Jerd. Birds of India, vol. ii. part i. p. 52.

Leiocincla plumosa, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xii. p. 953; vol. xiv. p. 600.

Txops rufifrons, Hodgs. M.S.

Alcurus Nipalensis, Hodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Misc., p. 83.

Rumnio-pho of the Lepchins. (Jerdon.)

 

Examptes of the elegant Actinodura Egerton have for many years graced the collections of this country, to
which they were transmitted by Mr. Hodgson, Griffiths, and others. For the specimens of this and some other
species of birds in my own cabinet I am indebted to the kindness of Edward Vernon Harcourt, Esq., who,
I believe, received them from Sikhim. It is much to be regretted that our Indian travellers have given us no
account of the habits and economy of this bird further than that which we find in a general note on several
allied genera by Mr. Hodgson. That it is very wren-like in its actions, and that it frequents dense and humid
mountain-forests, there can be little doubt ; neither, I presume, can there be any question as to its food con-
sisting of insects and their larva, procured either on the ground or among the leafy branches of the trees ;
Mr. Jerdon, however, states that it also feeds on fruits. The plumage of the two sexes is very similar, but
the female is somewhat smaller than the male.

It gave me great pleasure to assist in perpetuating the fame ay a gentleman, wie has devoted a long life
to the study of nature, by naming this bird in his honour; but without such a testimony on my part it will
be readily admitted that Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton will ever a among the a eminent scien-
tific men of our age for his many valuable papers on fossil fishes uu various geological subjects.

“This bird,” says Mr. Jerdon, “is found from Nepal to the hill-ranges of Assam and Sylhet. It is very

common near Darjeeling, at an altitude of from three to six thousand feet or more, associates in small flocks,

. pain » folic ne nds to the ground, and
wanders from tree to tree, carefully examines the foliage and branches, never desce g Le

feeds both on fruit and insects, more especially the latter. get pe ;
‘“Horsfield gives Afghanistan as a locality in which it 1s found; but I have no doubt that Griffiths’s speci-

: : 2s
mens were from the Khasia hills, where I noticed that it was far from rare. |
base of the bill deep brownish red; crest and nape grey; upper surface light

Feathers surrounding the
e aries rufous at the base and dark brown

rufous brown; wing-coverts bright
for the remainder of their length ;

rufous; primaries and second |
the three first primaries narrowly margined externally with silvery white,
s with greyish

and the remainder of the primaries and the secondaries regularly barred on their outer webs with g yi
the remainder brown, faintly barred with black near the extremity

ite ; ail-feathers rufous, :
ee 2 central ta » sandy buff, with the exception of the centre of the

and narrowly tipped with white; under surface dee] ie han
% . . » e a "6 ) e
abdomen, which is white; irides brown; bill light horn-colour ; legs pa - .
’ : ; ! . mn er Lp ftovrum.
: a of life. The plant is the Rhododendron came
The figures are of the size of life. The plant 1

 

      

 
 
 

 
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ACTINODURA NI PALENSIS, dodges.
Nepaulese Actinodura,

Cinclosoma nipalensis, Hodgs. in Asiat. Res., vol. xix. p. 145.

Actinodura nipalensis, Gray, Cat. of Spec NV m. a i B n
Acinodura npatensis, Gray, Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. ‘ds at. | ;
y I é Me and Birds pres. to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson,

Esq., p. 84.—Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 226, Actinodura, sp. 2.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat.
Soc. Calcutta, p. 98.—Horsf. and Moore Cat. of Birds in Mus. Kast. Ind. Comp. vol. i. p. 212.—Jerd.
Birds of India, vol. ii. Part ip: 53.

lxops nipalensis, Wodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Misc., 1844, p. 84.

Ramnio-pho of the Lepchins. (Jerdon.)

 

Tur Actinodura Nipalensis, although very similar in colour to 4. Egertoni, differs from that species in its
shorter and more rounded tail, in the feathers of that organ being of a much darker hue, the two centre
ones alone being brown, and that only on their basal half, their apical portions being black ; another
difference also occurs in the absence of white on the abdomen, and if a further comparison be
necessary, the black stripe from the base of the under mandible to the lower part of the throat is a
feature by which the present species may always be recognized. Mr. Jerdon, who is the only person
who has written a word on its habits, states that it is strictly a mountain species, and that it lives at
a much greater elevation in Nepaul than its near ally. Judging from its structure and the silky character
of its plumage, I should have supposed this bird to be an inhabitant of scrubby underwood and dense
herbage, but it is said to frequent high trees.

“The 4. Nipalensis,” says Mr. Jerdon, “replaces the 4. Hgertoni at higher elevations, being found from
about 7000 to 10,000 feet and upwards. It has only been procured in the 8.E. Himalayas, in Nepal, Sikhim,
and Bootan. It may be said to be more arboreal than its ally, for it is frequently seen perched on the very
tops of moderate-sized trees. It feeds chiefly on insects, and I found it, on Mount Tongloo, feeding on the
various insects that infest the flowers of the rhododendrons. I did not obtain the nest of either species, but
presume they build on high trees.”

Like the Actinodura Egertoni, examples of the 4. Mpalensis have been for many years in this country,
some of them have been sent to the continental museums, which are dependent
species peculiar to the hill districts of the Himalayas, and particularly

whence from time to time
upon us for this and many other
to those of Nepaul and the neighbouring countries.

Crown of the head, crest, and nape dark brown, with a stripe of pale greyish brown down the centre of
each feather; cheeks and ear-coverts dark grey ; stripe from the Joes mandible pasa beneath the ear-
r surface and wing-coverts dark rufous ; spurious wing black; wings dark slaty brown,

coverts black ; uppe
ies crossed on their outer webs with

the three outer primaries unmarked, the remainder and the secondar
numerous broad bands of rufous, which extend on to the inner webs of those nearest the body ; tail-feathers
alternately banded on their basal two-thirds with rufous and black, the apical oo oe oe a sh
the lateral ones tipped with white, which increases in extent as the ee oe : ao See ae
dull white; breast and centre of the abdomen ashy ; flanks, vent, ti ee

irides brown ; bill dark horn-colour ; legs light fleshy brown.

’ ant is the sis cordata.
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Codonopsis ¢

 
  
  
   
 
 
    
  
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
   
   
     

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

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ACTINOD URA W ALDENI » Godwin- Aus

fen.

Walden’s Actinodura.

Actinodura Waldeni, Godwin-Austen, P. Z.S., 1874, p. 46, pl. xii.

 

Tus third species of the genus Actinodura is one of the recent discoveries made by Major Godwin-Austen
in the Naga Hills ; and on reference to the Plates given in the present work a casual observer will perceive at
once its specific distinctness. In its shorter tail and general coloration the present bird is most like the
A. nipalensis ; but the feathers of the breast, every one of which is centred with brown, are a very striking and
characteristic feature in the new form. All three are elegant and harmoniously coloured little birds, rich
brown and chocolate-brown being the predominant tints.

Of course the time will come when we shall know as much about the habits and economy of Actinodura as
we do about Accentor and other European forms; and it would be interesting to know whether these birds
are gifted with song, as is the case with so many of these sombre-coloured birds. This we have to learn
from the researches of future observers; but, judging from its bill, I should imagine that they were not
very highly gifted as songsters. Dr. Jerdon places Actinodura in the Timaline, close to Trochalopteron and
Stdia; but from their barred wings and tail they apparently show some affinity to the Troglodytine.

Major Godwin-Austen is at present the only ornithologist who has met with this bird, and I am indebted
to him for the loan of the typical specimen. The following is his original description :—

‘* Head full-crested, extending back for more than an inch, hoary grey, edged pale; back rich brown with
a greenish hue, becoming more rufous on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; base of bail leather ee for
half their length narrowly barred with black, then black for terminal inch, the three outer tipped white ;
quills black, outer web chestnut at base, then barred with black, and the narrow fcunce portion grey ;
primary coverts black, the winglet-feathers grey, barred black; ear-coverts hoary; side of head hair-grey ;
chin, breast, and abdomen rufous brown, paler on the chin and throat, the whole having a streaky
appearance, the feathers being centred with a darker shade.

“Bill grey; legs and feet fleshy brown ; irides pale grey.

‘Length 8 inches, wing 3°48, tail 3-45, tarsus 1-2, bill at front 0°62. oo

“T first shot this bird on the Peak of Japvo, at about 9000 feet, on the Burrail range, Naga Hills.

The figures in the Plate are of the natural size.

 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
   

 
 
 

 
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ACTINODURA RAMSAYL

Ramsay’s Barwine..

Actmura ramsayi, Wald. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, xv. p. 402 (1875).—Hume, Stray Feathers, iii.
p. 404 (1875).—Wardlaw Ramsay, Ibis, 1877, p. 464, pl. xiii—id. Orn. Works of Marquis of
Tweeddale, p. 415.

Actinodura ramsayi, Hume, Stray Feathers, 1879, p. 97.

 

Ramsay's Barwing was discovered by the gentleman after whom it is named, in the hills of Karen-nee, in
Burmah, at a place called Kyai-pho-gyee. He states that he found it frequenting the jungle-covered
mountain-streams in the open country of Karen-nee, at an elevation of about 3000 feet, but he did not
subsequently meet with it.

The species is a very distinct one, easily recognizable by its ochraceous coloration ; and I add here-
with the original description given by the late Marquis of Tweeddale.

«¢ Under surface from chin to vent clear ochreous buff, somewhat darker on the chin and throat; upper
surface cinereous olive; forehead almost ferruginous; crown and crest, with the nape, like the back, but
tinged with ferruginous ; most of the dorsal feathers traversed by faint, yet distinct, narrow dark brown
bands or lines, which on the upper tail-coverts are more closely set together and very conspicuous; lores
and cheeks dark brown, almost black ; sides of the head behind the eyes and some of the lateral crest-plumes
without any ferruginous tinge; eyelids white; primaries narrowly barred with black on their outer
, also the minor coverts ; all the rectrices olive-brown, like the tertiaries, and

ashy,
webs up to their insertion
barred with numerous well-defined narrow black bands ; all but middle pair broadly tipped with

distinctly
er tailecoverts and flanks somewhat darker than remainder of under surface. Wing 3°50 inches,

white ; und
tarsus 1°12, tail 5; bill from forehead 0°87.” : ,

Captain Wecalaw Ramsay has given the soft parts of the species as follows :—‘ Iris light hair-brown, bill
horny brown, legs slaty brown.”

In the Plate I have given a life-sizec
me by Captain Wardlaw Ramsay.

1 illustration of the male and female, drawn from the typical pair lent to

  
    
  
 
  
 
 
     
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
   

 

 
 
 

 
 

 

 

 

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RIMATOR MALACOPTILUS. Buu.
Long-billed Wren.

Rinator malacoptilus, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xvi. pp. 154, 864, 878.—Ann. Nat. Hist., n. s., vol. xx.
p. 317.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 338.—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. of Birds in
Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. ii. p. 717.—Jerd. Birds of India, vol. i. p. 493.

Caulodromus Grace, G. R. Gray, Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xv., 1847, p. 6.—Id. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 144,
pl. 44. fig. 2.—Ann. Nat. Hist., n.s., vol. xix. p. 352.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 225.

Merva Jerdoni, Hodgs. Cale. Journ. Nat. Hist., 1847, p. 96.

Karriak tungbrek-pho of the Lepchas.

 

Tue bird figured on the accompanying Plate must be regarded as one of the most curious and highly
interesting species comprised in the Indian avifauna. It appears to be as scarce as it is singular in
structure (for at present it is only known to us from the few skins that have been collected by Mr. Hodgson
and one or two other observers); and a great length of time will probably elapse before we become acquainted
with its habits and economy. Its proper situation in our systems is very questionable ; Mr. Jerdon places it
near Troglodytes, assigns to it the trivial name of the Long-billed Wren, and has little doubt of the propriety
“Mr. Blyth,” says he, “calls it a Myiotherine bird, approaching the Wrens.
Gray puts it in his family Certhine, as does Prince Bonaparte, but quite erroneously, I think.” Its very short,
almost an apology for a tail, its rounded wings, long bill, stout tarsi, lengthened hind toes and claws, and
brown plumage, all indicate that it habitually resorts to the ground, or that the boles of fallen trees and
moss-covered stones in the humid forests are the places it usually frequents. We should like to know the
character and shape of its nest, whether open or domed, like that of Troglodytes, ae EL and number
of its eggs, the nature of its song, if any, and if the sexes assimilate in form and size and in the colouring

of their plumage : with respect to this is that there is no visible difference.

latter point the probability 1
Trusting I may live to read a more full account of the history of this highly curious bird from the
pens of some of the young and rising ornithol

ogists of our Indian Empire, I must now content myself with

subjoining Mr. Jerdon’s brief note respecting it. He says :— , 7
“I procured two or three specimens of this remarkable bird at Darjeeling, but regret that I did not
observe it myself. It was said to be chiefly a feeder on the ground, among brushwood and fallen trees ; and

I found the remains of insects in its stomach.”
Upper surface deep brown, with fulvous shafts ;
primaries and tail deep brown, slightly tinged with rufous ;

tint ; a black streak on each side of the throat ; flanks ferrugino four: irides Irene bream
bill fleshy at the base, dark horn-colour at the tip; legs brownish flesh-colour 5 1r g

The figures are of the natural size.

of the position he has given it.

scapularies and interscapularies mingled black and brown ;
under surface pale brown, striated with a darker
us olive ; under tail-coverts dark rust-red ;

 

 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
   
 
  
  
    
    
 
  
   
  
    
 
 

 
 

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DRY MOCHARES STELLATU S, Gould.
Stellated Shortwing.

Brachypterye (Drymochares) stellatus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1868 p. 218

 

Mr. Bryra, who has so assiduously investigated the avifauna of India, and whose w

ritings on the subj
ie : i : : 5 Subject are
familiar to every ornithologist, first called my attention to this interesting cae

i | species, assuring me that it w
new, and consequently a desirable bird to be at once figured in my ‘ Birds of Asia’

to Lieut. C. V. Eccles, of the Rifle Brigade, by whom two

as
; hor am I less indebted

specimens were brought to Eno: ,
loan of them for the purpose of describing and figuring—but sil more for his liber i a oe
g curing us liberality in presenting me with

one, the other (with equal liberality) being added to the National Collection at the British Museum. In the
‘Proceedings of the Zoological Society’ above referred to, I placed this bird in the genus Brachyptery

; 2, but,
in case ornithologists should deem the situation an erroneous one, I at the same time propose

d for it the sub-
generic title of Drymochares, and remarked, ‘ In its structure and in its dense and silky plumage this bird is so

closely allied to the smaller members of the genus Brachypteryw as scarcely to be removeable from them ;
and I should not have ventured to suggest a separate generic title, were there not so great a difference in its
colour and markings. The beautiful stellations of the breast render it specifically different from every other
bird with which I am acquainted, while the black crescentic wavy lines of the chest and the chestnut adore
ing of the back distinguish it from all the species of the genus Brachypterya, to which, in the lengthened form
of its thighs, tarsi, and toes, it bears a striking resemblance. Some may be inclined to regard the bird asa
member of the old genus, while others may consider its colour, markings, and ¢owt ensembde sufficiently dif-
ferent to justify the divisional name” I have suggested.

In size the Drymochares stellatus is about twice that of the European Wren (Troglodytes Europeus). Its
lengthened tarsi and general structure indicate that stony scrubby places are its natural abode; while its
dense and silky plumage proves, to my mind at least, that they must also be damp or humid. It is not
often that we receive an Indian bird that has escaped the searching eye of Mr. Hodgson ; but the present one
a circumstance which is doubtless due to the secluded habits of the

 

certainly has eluded his observation
species. The two specimens above mentioned were brought, with many other birds, direct from the rich

country of Nepaul. Lieut. Eccles, unfortunately, could not give me any precise information as to where his

. : , daa ; - on the dense scrubby side of the
specimens were procured, further than that he believes they were shot o y

mountains, at an elevation of about 10,000 feet.

Forehead, ear-coverts, breast, chest, and abdomen grey, crossed by numerous narrow wavy lines of black ;

at the tip of each of the feathers of the abdomen, flanks, under
lores black ; all the upper surface, wings, and tail chestnut-red ;

(and some few of the upper) tail-coverts an

irregular arrowhead-shaped mark of white ;
bill black ; feet brown.
C . . . 5 ° a a
Total length 42 inches, bill 3, wing 23, tail 2, tarsi ly.

The figures are of the size of life.

 
 
 

 
 

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TURDINULUS ROBERTI

Robert's Pygmy Babbler.

~

Pnoepyga, sp-, Godwin-Austen, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxxix. p. 101 (1870)

roberti, Godwin-Austen & Walden, Ibis, 1875, p. 252.— Hume, Stray Feathers, 1876, p. 218
Turdinulus roberti, Hume & Davison, Stray Feathers, 1878, p. 234.—Hume op. cit. 1879 93 a

 

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Tue general aspect of this bird is so like that of a Pnoepyga that I am not surprised that its original
describers placed it in that genus; but its plumage is quite unlike that of a Wren, and jatiek
resembles that of a Zurdinus in colour. Mr. Hume has therefore, in my opinion, correctly indicated the
affinities of the bird in his name Turdinulus; and I find, on examining the structure of the specimen
before me, that it is a true Timeline bird, with easily distinguishable rictal bristles. I at once adopt
Mr. Hume’s generic name for it.

The original specimens were obtained at Chakha in the Munipur hills, and at Asalu, by Mr. William Robert.
It was observed also on Mooleyit in Tenasserim by Mr. Davison, at a height of 5500 feet and upwards. The
following note on the habits of the birds is from the pen of the last-named naturalist :—‘ Generally seen
in pairs, occasionally three or four together, hopping about on the ground or about the stems of the
undergrowth only in the densest portions of the forest, and not preferentially near water. When alarmed,
like 7. brevicaudatus, they all raise a note of alarm— chick-chick, chick ; chick-chick, chick, chick,’ —which
they continually and unceasingly utter, until either you have passed on or they think they have got out
of sight and danger. ‘They are not shy, and do not fly unless very closely pressed, and then only for a
short distance. As a rule, when disturbed, they leave the ground and thread their way with great rapidity
amongst the stems of the brushwood, clinging sideways to these as many birds do. They are entirely
insectivorous.” :

The following is a copy of the description given by Colonel Godwin-Ansten and Lord Tweeddale :—
« Above olive-brown, each feather pale-centred and fringed or tipped with dark brown. Lores albescent.
Between the eyes and the rictus black. A well-defined streak extending hop eo the eye down each
side of the head fulvous. Ear-coverts cinereous at base, brown towards the tips. Chin and throat pure
white, each throat-feather being terminated bya small black triangular drop 5 us - a oe ae
overlap, these drops form continuous black lines, the oe principal ones Se ee
under mandible. Cheeks ferruginous, each feather with a black terminal drop. | o : a ae
feathers pale brown, with broad pure-white or fulvous-white centres. Under Pa ae ba : s ie

: ar letely concealing the short tail, and being of an
yellow. Plumage on the rump loose, soft, and dense, completely z beown. inOst autenReonttle
Wings, when closed, dark chocolate- rown, : oe
tipped with almost pure white, so also the inne! ae ; :
Legs pale horn-brown. _ Bill from nostri ‘ef inch,

almost uniform ferruginous brown colour.
secondaries. Most of wing-coverts distinctly
Rectrices chocolate-brown. | Mandibles dark brown.
wing 2°15, tarsus °79, tail 1:15.”
The Plate, which represents two
Colonel Godwin-Austen. rR. B. S.J

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birds of the natural size, 1s drawn from a specimen kindly lent y

 

 
 
 

 
 

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Short-tailed Turdinus.

Turdinus brevicaudatus, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beno
Von xoax. p 269. :
striatus, Wald. in Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., 1871, 4th ser.
part il. p. 324. sp. 4776%,

+ Vol. xxiv. p. 272.—God.-Aust. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng.,

vol. vii. p. 241.—Gray, Hand-list of Birds,

 

 

Puere is no group of birds with which we are less acquainted than that of which the present one is a
member ; almost all we know respecting them is that several of the species are constantly found in the
collections of birds sent to this country from Singapore.

The species here represented appears to range from the Tenasserim provinces to the Khasia Hills; a fine
example from which latter locality was kindly lent to me by Mr. Jerdon.

All the information on record respecting the Tidinus brevicaudatus is comprised in the following notes by
Mr. Blyth, extracted from the twenty-fourth volume of the ‘ Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.’ It

 

belongs to a form that is very well known, and quite worthy of the attention of ornithologists ; and, as no
one could furnish a better monograph of these little brown birds, and no one has a richer store of materials
for the purpose than Lord Walden, I trust he will take up the subject, and by so domg confer a great boon
upon his brother naturalists. As a proof that this species at least has not escaped his attention, I may
mention that, unaware of its having been previously characterized, his Lordship has given a description of it
in the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ for 1871, under the name of Turdinus striatus, from the
markings of the throat, which name must of course sink into a synonym.

Mr. Blyth, when characterizing this bird, says :—‘‘ A third and more aberrant species, remarkable for its
short tail, in which respect the Malayan 7. macrodactylus is itermediate to this and the preceding species
(7. crispifrons).

“These birds belong to a group which is preeminently difficult of classification, viz. the great Zimatia
As a genus or subgenus it is

 

series, which obtains its maximum development in the Malayan peninsula.
able from Zrichostoma, nobis, and this again from Malacopteron, Alcippe, nobis (exemplified by

barely separ Oe :
s affined to it). Zurdinus is distinguished by its

Brachypteryx sepiaria, Horsfield, and numerous other specie
robust form, and especially by its peculiarly mottled plumage, the feathers being mostly pale-shafted and
black-edged.

“Colour of the upper parts much as in 7. crispy pa
softer and less elongated ; of a rich olive-brown, black bordered and paler towards the shaft ; at the forebead
inclining to ashy, and scarcely stiffened ; plumage ove ump ee = oe ea _
copious ; throat mingled dusky and whitish, the dark part occupying the tip 0 al ae a | ee :
series of striae; remainder of the under surface ferruginous, deepest a the midc : of belly, and under
s on the great range of wing-coverts, and others tipping the
ath; legs pale, with whitish claws.
of which the tail is 13 in., its outermost feather

ons, but somewhat more rufescent, and the feathers still

r tie F

tail-coverts ; a series of whitish terminal speck
secondaries and tertiaries ; bill dusky above, pale bene
. ° eal + ® >» 2
‘Size comparatively small. Length about 93 inches 5 a
: ; lad ir Vy re rounded th
2 in. shorter than the medial ; closed wing 2' in., mo a ee
° ° e Carl aoe cis C ‘ai °
sixth to the tenth primaries subequal and the longest ; bill to gape +s 15 Cr ae
oS , - ton of the bird under the name of 4. sirvaius :
The following is Lord Walden’s description 0

Lay 1 back cinereous brown, narrowly edged with a rich ruddy brown,

‘Feathers of the head, nape, and ba 3 - ae

Wings and tail pale brown, tinged with rufous. 1 g é ay
5

coverts bright rust-colour. Chin, throat, and
Abdominal region and flanks

an in the two other species, having the

changing to dark brown on the margins.
upper tail-coverts brown, tipped with ferru ,

: : i -
upper breast-feathers white at the base and on the edges,

i eks, and ear-coverts 7 )
pale brown, tinged with rufous. Lores, che - brown. Bill from forehead ¢ of an inch, wing 28, tail 2
Legs yellowish brown. *

ginous 5 under tail-
with brown centres.
pale brown. Upper mandible horn-colour ;

lower paler, inclining to yellow.
inches, tarsus 2.”
The figures are of the natural size.

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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YUHINA DIADEMATA, v. Perr.

White-naped Yuhin.

Yuhina diademata, J. Verr. Nouv. Archiv., 1869, Bull. p. 35.—Swinh. Proc. Zool. Soc., 1871, p. 373.

 

OrnirHoLoaists are indebted to Mr. Hodgson for the discovery of the beautiful Yuhina occipitalis ; and in
like manner they have to thank the Pére Armand David for making known to them the existence of the
present even more interesting species. For the loan of one of the specimens obtained by the learned
Abbé, from which my drawing was taken, I have to record my obligations to Mr. D. G. Elliot. I learn
from my friend M. Jules Verreaux, of Paris, that the native country of the bird is Moupin, in North-
western China; and to this French savant is due the merit of giving the first description of the plumage,
and the information that the sexes are alike in colouring.

If my representation of this species be compared with that of Yuhina occipitalis, it will be seen that
the Y. diademata is somewhat larger in size, and that its conspicuous occipital mark is white instead of
rusty red, whence the two trivial names of Rusty-naped and White-naped Yuhin. —

Mr. G. R. Gray, in his ‘ Hand-list of Birds,’ has mentioned two other species of this form, namely Ywhena

gularis and Y. nigrimentum. Not a word has been recorded respecting the habits and economy of any of

° ° oy ae ° ol, ° ce S rT ‘ ° e 5
these birds. I believe they all frequent the high ranges of the Himalayas and their eastern continuation

towards China.

‘General colour earthy brown, paler beneath ;
white, becoming still more pure on the occipital spot, which is prec |
crest ; wings and tail black, with white shafts, which are most apparent on the latter

this I may add that the irides, bill, and feet appear to have been of a yellowish hue.
The plant is the Zndigofera decora.

the middle of the abdomen and the under tail-coverts pure
eded by some long feathers forming a

CS Verreua). wo

The figures are of the natural size.

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PELLORNEUM PALUSTRE, Jera.

Marsh-Pellorneum.

 

I am indebted to Mr. Jerdon for the loan of a very fine specimen of this rare little bird. After my drawing
was made, Mr. Jerdon, with his own hand, wrote upon it the name under which it is figured (Pellorneum
palustre, Jerd.), and, if I recollect rightly, at the same time informed me that it had been described in the
‘Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal’ for 1870; but on reference I do not find therein the
description of any bird so designated. It is true that, in an enumeration of some Asiatic birds by Major
Godwin-Austen, a species of this form is mentioned under the name of Pellorneum ruficeps, Swainson ; and
Mr. Swinhoe has described, in the ‘ Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ for 1871, a species from the
Tenasserim provinces, which had been given to him some years before by Mr. Blyth as P. subochraceum.
Now, can these names be in any way connected with the present bird? I think not; certainly not the
former. If Mr. Swinhoe were not away in China, and Mr. Jerdon out of England, those gentlemen might
have thrown some light on the subject ; and I would have delayed my Plate for this purpose, had not the entire
impression been printed off and coloured. I therefore publish it, and must defer to a future opportunity the
correction of any discrepancy that may be discovered, as well as any details respecting its history, habits,
actions, and economy that may be acquired. :

All the upper surface, wings, and tail reddish brown; above the eye a streak of sandy buff ; chin, centre
of the breast and abdomen white; sides of face, breast, and flanks rufous ; the feathers on each side of the
throat, of the breast, and flanks with a longitudinal spot of dark brown; under tail-coverts rusty red ; bill

brown, lighter beneath ; legs pale brown.

Habitat. Assam, Cachar.
The figures are of the natural size.

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

TIN]INN IIT

|

3

HII

TUL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

ALCIPPE BRUNNEBEA, Gowa.
Brown Alcippe.

Aleippe brunnea, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 280.—Swinh. in Ibis, 1863, p. 297.

 

Two species of this genus of little brown birds inhabit the Island of Formosa, both of which are considered
by Mr. Swinhoe to be new; these are the Acippe brunnea, Gould, and the 4. Morrisonia, Swinhoe. Besides
these, we find many others named by Messrs. Horsfield and Moore in their ‘Catalogue of the Birds in the
Museum of the East India Company.’

In comparing 4. drunnea with the 4. Morrisonia, Mr. Swinhoe says, “This ts a larger and browner
bird than the preceding, with a larger bill, but has the same black double streak on the back of the neck.
The sexes appear to be similar, as in that species. This is also a mountain bird, and not observed on the
plains. Its legs are much stronger, and its nails, especially the hind one, larger and more straightened. Its
tail, too, is much more graduated, the outer feather being ycths of an inch shorter than the central, and all
the feathers narrowing to their tips.” oo

Mr. Swinhoe not having recorded any information respecting the habits and economy of this bird, : am
unable to give any details respecting them, which is the more to be regretted since we know nearly as little
respecting the species inhabiting India.

Feathers of the crown and upper surface deep 1

darker tint, giving that part a scaled appearance ; a longitudin ' 2
ating the brown colouring of the crown from the grey of the sides of the

-eddish brown, those of the crown slightly fringed with a
al black stripe commences above the eye and

 

passes down towards the nape, separ
face and ear-coverts; throat and under surface brownish grey 5 :
thighs reddish brown 5 bill horn-colour ; legs

anks wood-brown; primaries and tail-

( if and toes flesh-white.
feathers uniform chestnut-brown 5

Wi Date are of the size of life.
The figures on the accompanying Plate are of the size of

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAHI
2,3) 4)

ore

pn vpn

  
 

CUTIA NIPALENSIS, dodges.

Nepaul Cutia.

Cutia Nipalensis, Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. v. p. 774, and vol. vi. p. 112.—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc

Beng. vol. xi. p. 183.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 98.—Gray and Mitch. Gen.
of Birds, vol. tii. App. p. 15.—Gray, List of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit.

Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 96.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. p. 373.—Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus.
East Ind. Comp. vol. i. p. 227.

Heterornis (Cutia) nipalensis, Hodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Mise. p. 84.
Khatya or Khitya, of the Nepaulese.

 

Tur Cutia NMpalensis is a most singular bird, the style and colouring of its plumage reminding us of some
of the members of the genus Péeruthius, while its structure resembles that of Pastor. It is a native of
Nepaul and Bootan, and is by no means common in our collections. Mr. Hodgson had the honour of first
giving it generic and specific appellations, accompanied by the following brief note, which I find m the fifth
volume of the ‘“‘ Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal :”—

‘These birds inhabit the central and northern regions of Nepaul, adhering to the wilds, and feed on seeds
and hard ground insects.” Specimens of both sexes are contained in the collection at the British Museum,
and in that of the Honourable East India Company ; and it is to the Court of Directors that I am indebted
for a fine example of each sex which I myself possess: a fine male was also presented to me by Edward
Vernon Harcourt, Esq.

As will be seen on reference to the accompanying Plate, a well-marked difference occurs in the sexes ; the
back of the male being of a uniform colour, while in the opposite sex the uniformity is broken by tear-shaped
spots of black.

The male has the forehead and crown dark slate-grey, passing into deep black on the lores; ear-coverts
and base of the neck, back, scapularies, rump and upper tail-coverts orange-red, bounded towards the wings
with a streak of a greyer hue; wings black, the primaries and secondaries broadly margined at the he of
slightly tipped with white; chin, throat and centre of the abdomen
decorated with conspicuous crescentic bands of brownish black ;
remainder of the bill black ; legs

 

the external webs with bluish grey, and
white; sides of the neck and flanks buff, dec
under tail-coverts buff ; irides brown ; base of the under mandible blue ;
reddish or orange flesh-colour.

In the female the lores and ear-coverts are reddish brown; the upper sur ie ae

hd o eo ~ > " = N oh row fe « 1

shaped spot of black near the tip of each feather; i other respects this sex resembles the male, but the
colours are not so bright.

The figures are of the natural size.

The plant is Rueda anisophylla.

face is of a dull red, with a tear-

 

 

 
 

 
 

 
ump

Kalter

nal

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J Gould 4 WHart deb. et bith,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SS

 
SUTHORA BRUNNEA, Anderson.

Anderson’s Suthora.

Suthora brunnea, Anderson, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 211.—Swinhoe, J. c. p. 373.

 

Tue genus Suthora may be divided into two very distinct sections, in the first of which may be placed all
those whose plumage is particoloured and their chins black ; while the second section would contain those
of more uniform plumage, with the throat and chest of the same colour. I have already in the present
work, figured two species of the genus; and it will be seen that S. npalensis belongs to the first, and
S. webbiana to the second section mentioned above. The bird which I now introduce to my readers is
allied to the last-named species and to S. a/phonsiana of Verreaux ; but it differs from both in the absence
of rufous on the wing, as well as in the vinaceous colouring of the ear-coverts and sides of the neck. In
S. alphonsiana these parts are grey; and in S. webdiana they are pale fulvous brown, like the head. The
home of the present bird is the province of Yun-nan in Western China. Here it was discovered by
Dr. John Anderson, the energetic Director of the India Museum at Calcutta, who has most obligingly lent
me one of the typical examples for the purpose of figuring in this work.

The following is a description of the bird :— .

General colour of upper surface olive-brown; the wings and tail uniform, the primaries externally
margined with fulvous ; the head and neck bright chestnut, including the ear-coverts ; cheeks and throat
pale vinous; the feathers with tiny mesial streaks of rufous; the rest of the under suriace pale fulvous
washed with olive on the flanks; under wing-coverts buffy-white; the edge of ile wing conspicuously
fulvous, the inner lining of the quills pale brown, edged with fulvous alone) the miner web, and oe
inclining to rufous on the secondaries. ‘Total length 5 inches, culmen 0°35, wing 2°0, tail 2°6, tarsus 0 79.
The figures in the Plate are of the size of life.

 
 

 
 

 
Walter up.

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SUTHORA MUNIPURENSIS, G-austen & Walden.

Munipur Suthora.

Suthora munipurensis, Godwin-Austen & Walden, Ibis, 1875, p. 250.
——- daflaensis, Godwin-Austen, Ann. Nat. Hist. 4th series, xvii. p. 32.

 

Tue species of the genus Suthora divide themselves naturally into two eroups—those whose plumage is
parti-coloured, and those whose plumage is more or less uniform. To the latter belong several species, such
as Suthora brunnea, S. webbiana, and others already figured by me in the present work ; while to the parti-
coloured group, which, moreover, invariably have a black throat, belong the present bird and its allies.
The Suthora munipurensis 1s very closely allied to S. nipalensis, but is distinguished by the ear-coverts being
grey instead of tawny-coloured, by the white eyebrow and narrow line of black along the sides of the crown.
The typical specimen was obtained by Mr. William Robert near Karakhul, Munipur hills.

Major Godwin-Austen is generally so correct in his discrimination of species that I regret to have to differ
but I cannot allow that his recently described Suthora daflaensis from the Dafla hills
He writes:—‘ The difference between them is most
marked on the undersides, the chin being grey in the Dafla bird, paling on the upper breast and belly to dull
yellowish white, while in the Munipuir and Naga species the chin and throat are deep black, fading to grey
There is also a marked difference in size, this new

from him in any way ;

is really specifically distinct from S. munipurensis.

on the breast, into the white of the lower tail-coverts.
form being the smallest of the genus now known. It was met with in the bamboo underwood of the forests
at 5000 to 7000 feet, Dafla hills, and first obtained on the slopes of Tordpitu Peak in January.” As Major
Godwin-Austen was so kind as to submit his typical specimen of S. daflaensis to me, I can only say that I
noted as due to age or seasonal plumage.

The following is the original description of the species, published (J. c.) by the authors ea one
n, becoming more olivaceous or fulvous green uw back ; shoulder of wing greenis
black, the first four edged white, the rest crossed with a bright falvous bar on the outer
‘th fulvous, and a few of the last tipped white on mner web 5 tail
h is dusky and indistinctly barred ; a broad supercilium
coverts and side of neck grey ; chin and
under tail-coverts pure white. Length

regard the slight differences above

of head cinnamon-brow
umber ;_ primaries
webs; the secondaries edged broadly w
ruddy fulvous at base, paling towards the end, whic
black ; lores and a narrow circle round the eye pure white; ear-
throat black, merging into pearly grey and white on the breast ;
4-5 inches, wing 1°8, tail 2°4, tarsus -77, bill at front 5.

On the eve of going to press, and before his starting for Ind oe
to place his S. daflaensis as a synonym to the prior-named species S. mu
done.

The birds in the Plate are drawn from M
vhich I am much indebted.

‘a, Lreceived Major Godwin-Austen’s sanction
3
ipurensis, which I have accordingly

atural
ajor Godwin-Austen s typical specimens, and of the n

size, for the loan of \

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

SOTHORA NIPALENSIS, Zoggs.

aS 77-7. PF 77. Woah i Hiulipnanda & Walton Pro
S Gould and Lf CLeichter del et lith Z IAA Ke} on L7t,

 

 

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HIYA TT TTD AHI
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SUTHORA NIPALENSIS, Hodes.
White-faced Suthora.

Suthora Nipalensis, Hodgs. Ind. Rev. 1838, p. 32.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 102.—
Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 334.

Temnornis Nipalensis, Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xiii. pl. in p. 450.

——— airifrons, Hodgs. Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1845, p. 31.

 

Mr. Hopeson described and made known to science the present pretty species, in the ‘ Indian Review ”
for 1838, under the name of Suthora Nipalensis; subsequently, if I mistake not, this gentleman applied
the name of Temnornis atrifrons to the same bird. In the British Museum collection there are several
specimens, which precisely accord with each other, except in the colouring of the head and cheeks, some
having those parts blue-grey, while in others the prevailing tint is nearly red; and until positive evidence
to the contrary has been obtained, I cannot but consider these two birds as one and the same species; yet
I am at a loss to know why these varieties have not been noticed by such an observant naturalist as
Mr. Hodgson, who distinctly states the crown of the head to be blue-grey, like that of the upper bird in the
accompanying Plate. If these birds should prove to be identical, of which I have but little doubt, it will be
interesting to know if the variation in colour is due to age or sex, a fact which can only be satisfactorily
determined in the native country of the species.

In the short note accompanying his description Mr. Hodgson says, “ This bird is a native of the central
and adds, “that it is observed in the Cachar in small flocks, frequenting

and northern regions of Nepaul,”
and food of Parus, of which it has the entire aspect; but besides

brushwood and tall grass ; habits, manners
its truncated bill it differs in its rounder wings, and in Its

Crown of the head and back of the neck brownish grey ; :
a broad black line; chin transversely barred with black and rusty red ;

centre of the abdomen; wings dark brown,
edged at the base with rufous, and

hy 2
larger and less arboreal legs and feet.’
cheeks pure grey; face and superciliary

stripes white, bounded above by
upper and under surface rusty red, fading into white on the :
, ills edged wi ite, 2x : ,
the first two or three quills le 1 with white, the next two or three : ote
tire length with the same colour, but a deeper hue; tail dé

the remainder edged throughout their en a ae
: aa ly i rufous; bill black at the tip and bluish at the base; legs fleshy white ; iris
rown, edged externa 5 ack.
2 5
dark brown. in other respects the colouring is the

' € oY a ayeyre ik us 3
In some specimens the crown of the head and cheeks are rufous ;

same.

: . . Pinus brunonana.
The figures are of the natural size, on the Pinus brunon

 

 

 

 

 

——
ema

 
 

 
G

riariel & Walton L767.

WS

 

 

 

ould anh Lh Cleechter del cl leith.

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SUTHORA FULVIFRONS.

Fulvous-fronted Suthora.

Temnornis fulvifrons, Hodgs. Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIII. p. 31.
Suthora fulvifrons, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 102.

 

On the accompanying Plate I have figured another of the rare and little-known birds of the rich district of
Nepaul, of which no specimens occur n the continental collections, rich as most of them are in Indian
productions. Elegant in all its proportions and cheerful in its colouring, this species has especial claims to
our notice, and it is very desirable that some information should be obtained as to its habits and economy.
The specimens in the British Museum collected by Mr. Hodgson offer but little difference, either in their
size or colouring ; and we have yet to be informed by persons resident in the country, whether any difference
occurs in the colouring of the sexes, and for the procuring of what peculiar kind of food the singularly
truncate bill of these birds is adapted.

General plumage rusty red; ear-coverts grey, below which
brown ; primaries and apical half of the tail-feathers brownish blac!
ail lively red ; bill vinous flesh with a dusky ridge ;

the cheeks are whitish; superciliary stripe
«3; edges of the primaries, rump, upper

tail-coverts and base of the t breast sandy red, passing

into grey on the belly ; feet fleshy white.
The figures are of the natural size, on the Ceropegw pubescens.

 
 

 
 

 
Walton Lrep.

 

 

 

 

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SUTHORA WEBBIANA, G. R. Gray.
Webb’s Suthora.

Suthora Webbiana, G. R. Gray, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1852.

 

A SINGLE specimen of this new bird graces the national collection at the British Museum ; to which it was
presented by Mr. Webb, a gentleman who has been instrumental in introducing to our notice considerable
collections of birds and quadrupeds from the neighbourhood of Shanghai in China, in which district the
present species was collected. It is in every respect a typical Su¢hora, and far exceeds in size both S.
Nipalensis and S. fulvifrons ; independently of size, it also differs from them in its more quiet and sombre
colouring. It was brought under the notice of ornithologists at a late Meeting of the Zoological Society of
London by Mr. George Robert Gray, who gave it the specific name of Webdiana, as a compliment to the
donor of this and many other interesting birds to the British Museum.

In order to give variety to the accompanying Plate, the bird has been figured in two positions.

Crown of the head and back of the neck sandy red, passing into the olive tint of the back and upper sur-
face generally ; tail of the same colour, but of a shade darker than the back ; primaries strongly edged wel
bright rufous; throat and breast light buff, washed with a rosy tint ; abdomen inclined to olive; bill light

brown, washed with rosy pink ; legs either yellow or fleshy white.

The figures are of the natural size.

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UIC TN

WAQ00N00 ATA

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

PARADOXORNIS AUSTENTL, a. sp.

Austen’s Paradoxornis.

 

 

As long ago as 1836 I published the first species of the remark
that time it has been a disputed point amongst ornithologists
in the natural system

able genus Paradoxornis; and ever since
as to where this genus should be placed
; it has found various positions, being by some referred to the Timaliide, and
by others to the Fringillide. Since the genus was first instituted by me, several allied forms, such as
Suthora, Cholornis, &c., have been discovered ; and Paradovornis itself now numbers several representatives.
The smaller forms like Suthora appear to lead off towards the Paride, and Paradoxornis to Conostoma and
the Timaliidee ; whilst P. Heude?, belonging apparently to another subgenus which may be called Calamornis,
is so closely allied to Calamophilus, that I have no doubt in my own mind that they form together a natural
group.

But we must now speak of the present species, one of the novelties which has rewarded the energy
of Major Godwin-Austen, who has done so much to enlighten our ignorance of the little-known birds
of the hill-country on the north-eastern frontiers of our Indian Empire; and I have accordingly named it
after him.

There can be no doubt that P. Austeni is very closely allied to P. flavirostris; but it has no black
throat, this part being white, with a few black spots on the fore neck; and as’ these characters appear to
be constant, I have no hesitation in describing it as a new species.

Major Godwin-Austen sends me the following note on the present bird :—“ Of the highter-coloured
species, which you propose to honour me by naming after me, I obtained five ve all precisely alike
—two in the Naga Hills near Kuchai, the others at Shillong in the Khasi Hills, in both localities at an
elevation of from 5000 to 6000 feet above the level of the sea. These hills are well wooded in parts, with
open grass-lands. A specimen from the Naga Hills measured in the flesh—length 78 inches, wing 3°3,
tail 4-1, tarsus 1:05, bill, from front 0°67, from gape 0:4. Legs plumbeous, with a shight linge of aces
bill yellow. The dark-coloured bird (Paradoxornis flavirostris), of winieh I left one specimen with oe
obtained in the great beels (marshes) near Bolagunj, on the south side of the Khasi: Hills, ale it was t :
only form seen in December and April; it evidently breeds there. This very low marshy tract : covere
with high grasses (from 12 to 18 feet high), dense thickets of a rose, and a in

Above very pale brown, the tail almost uniform with the back, and showing some slig | gy :

i arke back, the inner webs of the quills deep sepia-brown ;
away from the light; wings rather darker than the ; 5 th

le sandy rufous ; lores, feathers all round and below the eye, as well as on the

ee ee nd neck: pa : ides of neck very pale sandy buff; under surface of
fore part of the cheeks, buffy white ; ear-coverts Bees Cus : = ] 7 a h, and the fore neck marked
body buffy white, more fulvous on the sides and flanks, the chin slightly ackish, an i

: - -coverts clear fulvous, like the inner lining of the wing.
with a few triangular spots of black ; under wing-cover

The figures in the Plate are of the size of life.

 
 
 
HEUDEL, A David

i pg iy
a) 3) al 8:

 

 
 

 

 

 

PARADOXORNIS HEUDEIL, «4 Davia.
Pere Heude’s Paradoxornis.

Paradoxornis Heudeit, David, Comptes Rendus, lxxiv

p. 1449.—Id. Rey.
Mus. ix. Bull. pl. 4. fig. 2. ev. Zool. 1872, p. 359; J. Verr. N. Arch.

eam 7 period oF my ornithological career I have always been led to expect to see a true

ny : Md ” eet ao : : n)

Calamophilus from Eastern Asia; but up to the present time this has never turned up. On the other hand
>

anew and highly interesting sedge-loving bird has lately been described by Pére David, and skins forwarded.

to this country for Mr. Swinhoe’s collection. I herewith offer my best thanks to the last-named gentleman
for the loan of these specimens, and am sure that the birds now figured will be full of interest to the ornitho-
logical public. In colour, general markings, and softness of plumage the present bird is almost similar to
our own Reedling ; and it is principally in its larger size and Paradovornis-like bill that the greatest differ-
ences are observable.

The following is an extract from the original account of the species by Pére David :—‘‘ Pére Heude, a
missionary at Shanghai, actively busies himself with studying and collecting the natural productions of the
province in which he resides. Among the birds shown to me by him during a recent visit to that town, are
several not yet included in the ornithological catalogues of Chinese birds. I now refer specially ‘to a very
interesting form belonging to that curious group of insectivorous birds which is represented in Kastern Asia
by the genera Conostoma, Cholornis, Paradoxornis, and Suthora. The bird I allude to appears to me to be
‘ntermediate between these last two genera, and might perhaps constitute the type of a new one. I range it
provisionally with the genus Paradovornis, of which it exhibits the most important characters. Pere Heude
having permitted me to take a description of the bird, which is unique in bis collection, I hasten to transmit
it, feeling that it is at the same time my duty to dedicate this new species to him by the name of Paradox-
ornis Heudet.” .

My kind friend Consul Swinhoe has also comunicated the following extract from a letter received from
Pére Heude, and dated “ Sikaiwei, Sept. 29th, 1873.” He writes :—‘ The Kiang-Sou Paradoxornis frequents
When they are cut down it takes refuge in those which are kept in a reserve-store 1n the

the large reeds.
It extends, to my knowledge, the length of the

enclosures of gardens &c.; I have not seen it on bushes.
Nanking and Kew-Kiang, on the edge of the great lake Hang-tse. It
flies in company, like its near ally Suthora, making a great noise when climbing up the dry ee
it attacks vigorously from the bottom, examining each stalk to its top, and then passing ae anotl er. :
song is a warbling ‘ ro-ri-ri,, sonorous and melancholy. ene one ae ee oe ee
distinguished from afar, the birds calling to one another without ceasing. ley y y apy

and are not wild. Length of male 0:19 mill., of female 0°16 mill. Iris rosy red. These dimensions
: : | = £ 39
and there are slight differences between these limits.

ae : oe eee
The accompanying descriptions are from Mr. Swinhoe's specimen a a
Adult male-—Head and hind neck grey, gradually assuming a lilac shade on the interscapulary region as

it passes off into the chestnut back, the upper part of which is slightly streaked with dark brown; on each
og e of black extending down the sides of the neck; lores and sides of face light

k whitish, tinged with lilac ; up

Yang-tsze river from Kin-Kiang to

are extreme ;

side of the crown a narrow lin

greyish white; throat white ; ee ae ljohter down the middle of the abdomen and under tail-coverts ; under
“fac , awn-colour, lighter do
the under surface fulvous fawn-colour,

also the edge of the wing ; upper wing-coverts deep chestnut-maroon ; ie sepia-
th rufous, extending round the tips and some way Up the a - ed
1 whitish buff, the ‘anermost broadly black in the centre, the : Oo a
ming a distinct longitudinal streak down the sides of the back ;
tail black, with conspicuous white tips to the feathers,
e feathers fulvous fawn-colour, deeper on the margins.

nd with a much smaller bill; all the colours less
nearly uniform with the back, having only a very

per breast chestnut-maroon, the rest of

wing-coverts whitish, as
brown, externally washed wi
web, the secondaries margined witl
‘nner web white for its whole length, for
d, the upper tail-coverts paler ;

fawn-colour, the two centr
oured than the male, a
ack absent, and the head

rump straw-coloure
more or less shaded with
Adult female.—More dull-col
intensified, the maroon of the b
slight tinge of grey.
Both sexes are represe

nted in the Plate, and are life-size.

 
 

 
 
 

 

 

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PARADOXORNIS FLAVIROSTRIS, Gowa.

Paradoxornis.

Paradoxornis flavirostris, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. pt. iv. p. 17.—Ib. Mag. of Zool. and Bot. vol. i. p. 62.—Ib.
Icones Avium.—Horsf. and M‘Clell. Proc. of Zool. Soc. part vii. p. 164.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of
Birds, vol. ii. p. 389, Paradowxornis, sp. 1.—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. xiv. p. 578.—Bonap.
Consp. Gen. Av. p. 500, Paradowxornis, sp. 1.—Moore, Cat. Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp.

Bathyrhynchus brevirostris, M‘Clell. Quart. Journ. Calcutta Med. and Phys. Soc. 1837.—Ib. Ind. Rev. 1838, p. 513,
with a figure.

 

Peruaps there is no one of the smaller Insessorial birds which has excited more interest among ornitholo-
gists than the present very singular species, which I had the pleasure of first making known to science in
the year 1836; nothing was then known respecting its history, and we are still uninformed as to its habits
and economy, or for what purpose its remarkably formed bill is especially adapted. It is a species of great
rarity, so much so, indeed, that I know of no continental collection which is graced by a specimen; our
National Museum, however, as well as those of the Honourable East India Company and the Zoological
Society, all contain examples. The sexes appear to offer little external difference either in size or colour.
Mr. Hodgson has sent specimens to the British Museum from Nepaul, and Mr. M‘Clelland to that of the

. . si trie refor idered to constitute its true
East India Company from Assam ; these countries therefore may be cons

habitat. ; e i d
: ak : . wings and tall San rown 3; face
Crown of the head and back of the neck dull rufous ; upper surface, wilgs é y brown ;
jet-black ; under surface pale sandy brown, with a large

and throat white, mottled with black ; ear-coverts =
he mottled feathers of the throat ; bill rich orange-

blotch of black on the breast immediately below t
yellow ; tarsi and feet olive-green.

The figures are of the natural size.

 
 
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PARADOXORNIS UNICOLOR, doags.

Long-tailed Paradoxornis.

Heteromorpha unicolor, Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. xii. p. 448, with a figure.—Gray’s Zool. Mise. p. 84.—
Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc, Beng. vol. xiv. p. 578.

Paradoxornis unicolor, Hodgs. Cat. of Birds of Nepal, p. 111.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. ii. App. p. 18.
—Bonap. Gonsp. Gen. Av. p. 500, Paradowornis, sp. 3.—Moore, Cat. Birds Mus. Hast Ind. Comp.

 

Mr. Hopeson, who has contributed so largely to our knowledge of the ornithology of Nepaul, is the
discoverer and describer of this new species of Paradoxornis, which he considered to be distinct from the
hich he therefore proposed the term Heteromorpha: it is true that the bill is
, and has straighter tomia, and that the plumage is more lax and

and in its large feet, is truly

type of the genus, and for w
not so deep, is less flattened on the sides
still the bird, in its general aspect, in the form of its wing,

loose in its texture ;
hove mentioned rather as specific than

a Paradowornis ; 1 am therefore induced to regard the differences a
generic.

Mr. Hodgson states that it “ inhabits
the ground, but seems to feed aloft on wood b

the thick brushwood of the Cachar of Nepaul ; frequently alights on
ugs and other hard tree-insects ; occurs in small flocks, and

is not noisy.”
Judging from the other species, we may infer th
Specimens of this rare bird are contained in the collection

at there is no difference in the colouring of the sexes.
at the British Museum and in that at the East

India House. :
All the upper surface, wings and tail rufous brown; the feathers of the forehead and face edged with
grey; breast greyish brown, passing into pale rufous brown on the abdomen; under side of the shafts of

the tail-feathers yellowish ; bill orange-yellow ; feet greenish.

The figures are of the natural size.

 
 
 
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
     
 

 
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PARADOXORNIS GULARIS, Aorsy

Grey-crowned Paradoxornis.

Paradowornis gularis, Horsf. MSS.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 389, Paradowornis, sp. 3. pl. xciv. fig. 2.
—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. p. 500, Paradowornis, sp. 2.—Moore, Cat. Birds Mus. East India Comp.

Paradoxornis (Heteromorpha ?) caniceps, Blyth, J. A. 8. vol. xviii. p. 810.

Heteromorpha? (Paradoxornis?) caniceps, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. p. 102.

 

A sincLe example of this rare species of Paradoxornis has been sent to the Museum of the Honourable
East India Company by Mr. Pemberton, from Bhotan. I find Dr. Horsfield’s MS. name of gwdarzs attached
to this specimen, and under that appellation it has been published by Messrs. Gray and Mitchell in their
“Genera of Birds” above quoted. I believe the specimen referred to is the only one in this country; the
bird appears to be known to Mr. Blyth, and to have received from him the appropriate name of caniceps,
which, however, cannot be retained, in consequence of its not having been published until after that of
gularis had been assigned it by Dr. Horsfield.

In his Catalogue of the Birds in the Museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Mr. Blyth questions whether
this bird belongs to the genus Paradovornis or to Heteromorpha; the latter term, however, having been
given to a species which I can see no sufficient reason for separating from the true Paradoworni, | apprehend
that if the present bird and the P. ruficeps are to be separated, they must receive an enn aly new generic
appellation ; for the present therefore I prefer to retain them in the genus Paradovornes.

Forehead, a line passing over each eye to the occiput, and a mark down the centre of the throat black ;
crown of the head and cheeks grey ; upper surface and wings pale reddish brown; primaries dark brown,
edged with pale reddish brown ; tail light brown ; circle round the eye, lower part of the cheeks and under
surface cream-white, tinged with buff on the flanks ; bill orange-yellow ; feet greenish.

The figures are of the natural size.

 
 

 
 
 

 

 

 

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PARADOXORNIS RUFICEPS, Byrn.

Red-headed Paradoxornis.

Paradoxornis ruficeps, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. xi. p. 177, and vol. xii. p. 1010, with a figure.—Tickell,
Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. xvi. p. 446.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. il. p. 389, Paradoxornis,
sp. 2, pl. xciv. fig. 1.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. p. 500, Paradowornis, sp. 4.—Moore, Cat. of Birds
in Mus. East Ind. Comp.

Heteromorpha ruficeps, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. xiv. p. 578.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc.
Calcutta, p. 102.

 

Tus species may be at once distinguished from its congeners by the rich rufous colouring of its head and
cheeks. Like the other members of the genus, it inhabits the eastern parts of the great Himalayan range,
Nepaul, Sikim and Bhotan constituting its native habitat, and like them also is extremely rare i our
collections.

Captain Tickell remarks, “J have killed several specimens of this bird, and often watched its actions in a
wild state at Geeng near Darjiling, and I cannot agree in opinion with those who class the group to which
it belongs with the Crateropodines. It is a great devourer of grain, maize, rice and buck-wheat, which latter
is common in Nepaul ; it perches on the tops of high trees as well as bushes when off its ee in fact
in none of its manners does it resemble the thicket-loving, skulking habits of the Crateropoding.

The female appears to resemble the male in colouring ; at least the examples I have seen, which I believe
to be of that sex, do not offer any difference in appearance. ice OME

The specimens in the British Museum were sent to this country by Mr. Hodgson; those i the
of the East India Company by Mr. Pemberton.

Head and cheeks rich rusty red ; back, wit
cream-white, washed with buff on the flanks ; bill orange-yellow ; feet greenish.

The figures are of the natural size.

oe 2 a
igs and tail pale reddish brown; chin, breast and abdomer

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
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