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-