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 ¢