PSALTRIA EXILIS, Temm.
Exile Tit.

Psaltria exilis, Temm. Pl. Col. 600. fig. 4.
Parus exils, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 192, Parus, sp. 47.

 

Tuis modestly coloured little bird has hitherto been only known by the figure published by M. Temminck
in his “‘ Planches Colorieés,” and referred to above, specimens being extremely rare in all our collections. Its
first describer, M. Temminck, was evidently undecided as to what group it really belonged, and certainly
did not conceive that it pertained to the Tits (Paride); such, however, is its true situation, since it forms
one of a small and peculiar section of that family, which has, as yet, been only found in India, and of which
the well-known P. erythrocephala, of the Himalaya Mountains, may be cited as an example ; I have, therefore,
no alternative but to adopt M. Temminck’s early generic name of Psaééria, in lieu of that of Agithaliscus
of Cabanis.

I have two specimens of this little bird in my own collection, one of which was obtained in Sumatra, the
other in Java; and although I have no positive evidence that the species inhabits the Malayan peninsula, I
should think there is every probability of its being found there. Of its habits and economy, or its history,
nothing is at present known.

No material difference occurs in the colouring of my specimens, and, judging by analogy, we may presume
that the sexes are very similar in plumage.

Head and back of the neck light brown ; shoulders and back grey; wings and tail brown, with lighter
edges ; throat bluish-grey; across the breast a faint gorget of buffy-white ; under surface cream-colour,
washed with grey on the flanks; bill brown; feet fleshy-brown. ;

The figures are of the natural size. The accompanying plant was copied from a drawing kindly lent to
me by Dr. Horsfield, and represents one of the numerous discoveries made by him in Java.