and Description of Birds from the Island of Java. l.*> I 



Gen. 16. Ireka. 

 Rostrum mediocre, cultratum; maxilla apiee adunca emargiiiiit;i. 

 Culmen arcuatum, elevatum, inter nares carinatum, utrinque a 

 basi ultra medium usque sulco obsoleto exaratum, lateribus 

 subconvexis. Nares basales subrotundae, vibrissis rigidis plu- 

 misque velutinis obtectae. Ala cauda breviores. Remiga 

 2 — 6 externe emarginatae, 3 — 6 longiores subaequales ; se- 

 cunda sequente abrupte brevior, prima subspuria. Cauda nn - 

 diocris, truncata. Tarsi digitique breves. Acropodia scutu- 

 lata. Ungues parvi, fortius curvati, debiles. 

 The striking and distinctive characters of this genus are, the 

 nares covered with velvet-like feathers, from the base of which 

 strong vibrissa; are protruded, the short feet and the weakness of 

 the claws. It is nearest allied to Turdus and Oriolus. From the 

 former it differs in the greater arch of the beak and the lateral 

 convexity of the sides of the culmen ; from the latter in the cur- 

 vature of the beak and the elevation of the culmen. It differs 

 from both in the velvet-like covering of the nares, and in the 

 lateral grooves of the upper mandible. The bill is also shorter 

 and more convex than in Meliphaga, which has a semblance of 

 a similar membrane over the nares, but is destitute of the downy 



covering. 



Spec. 1. Irena puella mihi. 



Coracias puella, Lath. Lid. Orn. 171. 



Br ess i Javanis. 



Longitudo 8£ poll. 



The body above, the wings near the shoulders, the crown of the 

 head, and the base of the tail, both above and beneath, are of a 

 rich sky-blue, forming a strong and beautiful contrast with the 

 other parts, which are of a deep velvet-black. 



VOL. XIII. 



Gen. 



