PTERUTHIUS ERYTHROPTERUS.

Himalayan Pteruthius.

Lanius erythropterus, Vigors in Proc. of Comm. of Sci. and Corr. of Zool. Soc. part i. p. 22.—Gould, Century of
Birds, pl. 11.

Pieruthius erythropterus, Swains. Faun. Bor. Amer. App. p. 491.—Ib. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 249.—Blyth, Journ.
Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. xi. pp. 106 and 183.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 99.—
Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 270, Pteruthius, sp. 1.—Gray, List of Spec. and Draw. of
Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 95.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av.
p. 362, Pteruthius, sp. 1.—Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp. vol. % p. 172.

 

Stvce the first introduction of this bird into Europe in 1830, so many examples have been transmitted in
collections from the Himalayas, that I presume there are few museums of natural history in which one
or more are not to be seen. The long interval, however, which has elapsed between our first knowledge of
the species and the present time has not, I regret to say, produced any account of its habits and economy,
which is the more to be regretted, inasmuch as its structure would lead us to believe that they are somewhat
peculiar. That its food is partly insectivorous and partly frugivorous may be fairly inferred from the forma-
tion of the bill; in all probability berries and the softer kinds of insects constitute its principal subsistence.

The Péeruthius erythropterus appears to enjoy an extensive range over the southern slopes of the great
Himalayan range, as it is-from thence that I have received numerous examples; and I observe that the
Honourable East India Company’s Museum contains specimens from Bootan, Kumaon, and Assam.

The male has the head black, with a lengthened patch of white posterior to the eye; back and upper
surface grey ; wing-coverts, primaries and secondaries black ; the primaries tipped with white ; tertiaries fine
chestnut-red ; tail black; all the under surface greyish white with a vinaceous tinge, especially on the flanks
and the lower part of the abdomen; under tail-coverts white ; upper mandible black ; lower mandible leaden
grey; legs and feet flesh-colour.

The female has the head dark grey, gradually blending with the olive-brown of the upper surface of the
body; lores and ear-coverts brown ; all the under surface dull white, with a brownish tinge on the flanks ;
lesser wing-coverts black, fringed with grey; greater coverts olive-yellow on their outer webs, black on the
inner; primaries and secondaries black, margined externally for nearly their entire length with olive-yellow,
and the former tipped with white ; tertiaries chestnut-red ; tail olive-yellow, deepening into black, and the
lateral feathers largely tipped with yellow; bill and feet as in the male.

The Plate represents the two sexes of the size of life.