ACANTHIPARUS: JOUSCHISTOS.

Chestnut-breasted ‘Tit.

Parus Jouschistos, Hodgs. Gray’s Zool. Misc. (1844) p. 943.—Ib. in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol. xv. p. 326.—
Gray, Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq.,
p. 72.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol.i. p. 192, Parus, sp. 45.—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng.,
vol. xiii. p. 943.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 104.—Ib. in Jard. Cont. to Orn.
1852, p. 51.

Poecila jouchistos, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 230, Poecila, sp. 14.

Orites (?) jouschistos, Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 375.

 

Tue native country of this singularly coloured species of Tit is Nepaul, and most, if not all the specimens
that have been sent to this country have been received through the medium of Mr. Hodgson, its first
describer: would that this gentleman had recorded something respecting its habits and economy, as it
may be supposed that they are somewhat peculiar, since, in structure and colour, it differs from most of its
congeners ; not greatly it is true, but still sufficiently so to render it very puzzling as to which group it may
be properly assigned. Mr. Blyth, who has also had it under review, states, that ‘by its lengthened spread
tail, it approximates the Orvtes division ;” in the lengthened form of its bill, however, and in the mark on

the forehead, it more nearly approximates to Acanthiparus, and in that genus I have, therefore, provisionally
placed it.

from the examples I have had opportunities of examining, there appears to be little or no

Jl udging
Specimens of this rare bird are contained in the collections at the

difference in the colouring of the sexes.
British Museum and the East India House.
Forehead. rusty-red, passing into pale rufous o1
nape black ; back and wings grey, the latter inclining to brown ; . 3
margined with ereyish-white, the white bemg eradually less extensive on ie second and third than on the
first; cheeks and sides of the neck reddish-chestnut ; chin black; throat silvery-grey ; all the under surface

feet reddish flesh-colour.
The plant is the Roydsia suaveolens, Roxb.

the centre of the crown; lores, sides of the head, and
tail dark brown, the three outer feathers

chestnut-red ; bill black ;
The figures are of the natural size.