and Description of Birds from the Island of Java. M><) 



genus [du grand genre) of Certhia with the name DlCAUM*. 

 This I have empolyed as a generic name. 



The following description applying equally to Dictrwn cruen- 

 tatum and favum, is given to show that the characters of this 

 genus are sufficiently marked. 



Rostrum capite brevius, basi latissimum, apicem versus abruptius 

 acuminatum, subulatum. Maxilla lei iter arcuaia. Culmtn 

 inter nares carinatum. Mandibula recta. Tomia ambarum 

 subintracta. Nares basales, magna?, in sulco oblongo antice 

 angustato positae, supra membrana fornicali subcorneaclauvt . 

 rima longitudinali versus angnlum oris aperta*. Remiges: 

 prima duabus sequentibus quae sunt a^quales brevior, cetera 

 gradatim decrescentes, 2 — 4 externe emarginata:. Cauda trun- 

 cata. Pedes congrui. Digiti anteriores compressi, exteriore 

 cum medio usque ad extremitatem phalangis prima 1 coalito, 

 halluce validiore. Ungues compressi, arcuati, postico medio 

 fere duplo majore. 



This genus forms a connecting link between Nectarinia and 

 Alcedo, or between the families of Certhiadce and Aferopida or 

 Sytidactyles. In consequence of the subulate form of the extre- 

 mity of the bill it has been placed in the genus Certhia ; but it 

 differs greatly as well from this genus as from Cinnyris and Nec- 

 tarinia. The broad base and subulate point of the bill, the 

 union of the exterior and middle toe for the length of one entire 

 phalanx, and particularly its habits, distinguish it from the Cer- 

 thiadcB and associate it with the Meropidce. 



* Having in a former part of this paper arranged one of the birds under the genus 

 MELIPH AGA, it is necessary to state in this place, that I have not been able to recon- 

 cile to my investigations the following remarks of M. Temminck {Manuel, pnface, 86.) 

 on the identity of these two genera: " Tous les Phihdom (Meliphaga Lewin) sont de 

 I'oceaniqueet des mors les plus reculees de l'lnde. Les especes du genre Dicte de M . Cu- 

 \ ier y tiennent de si pres, tant par leur forme generate que par les caracteres pris du bee, 

 des pieds, &c, qu'il est impossible de les distinguer des Phikdons du meme auteur." 



vol. xiii. v Spec. 





