394 oberholser: new genus of timaliidae 



brought to a very high stage of perfection by this Bureau, yields 

 of from 92 to 95 per cent conversion of the ammonia being at- 

 tained. The process of absorption of the nitric vapors has been 

 much simpHfied by the work of the Nitrate Division. And all 

 along the line we may hope, as a result of the war, that during 

 the next year or two there will be a very marked development of 

 our processes of nitrogen fixation. 



I hope that this brief outline may have served to give you 

 a general survey of the situation with reference to our supply of 

 nitrogen compounds and the means available for meeting the 

 demand for them in this country. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — Diagnosis of a new genus of Timaliidae. 

 Harry C. Oberholser, Bureau of Biological Survey. 

 The genus Zosterornis Grant, a group of Timaliidae allied to 

 Mixornis, at present comprises seven species, all peculiar to the 

 Philippine Islands. It was originally described^ by Mr. Ogilvie 

 Grant for the reception of a new bird, Zosterornis whiteheadi Grant, 

 discovered by Mr. John Whitehead in the island of Luzon. 

 Since then three more species have been described, and three 

 others originally referred to the genus Mixornis have been trans- 

 ferred to the same group. All of these, however, excepting the 

 type of Zosterornis and possibly Zosterornis striatus Grant, 

 which latter we have not seen, are not congeneric, and it is there- 

 fore necessp,ry to provide for them a new generic name. 



Sterrhoptilus," gen. nov. 



Chars, gen. — Similar to Zosterornis Hodgson, but tarsus relatively, 

 as well as actually, much shorter, being less than one and one-half 

 times the length of bill, and only three-tenths or less of the length of 

 the wing; middle toe without claw decidedly shorter than exposed cul- 

 men, instead of about equal; tail not almost square, but rounded, even 

 somewhat graduated; first primary (counting from the outermost) 

 about half the length of the second, not decidedly more, as in Zosterornis; 

 feathers of pileum narrowed, stiffened, and somewhat pointed, not 

 broad and rounded at their ends as in Zosterornis. 



Type. — Mixornis capitalis Tweeddale. 



1 Zosterornis Grant, Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 3: No. 19, June 30, 1894, p. 1. [50]. 

 (type by original designation and monotypy, Zos'erornis whiteheadi, sp. nov.). 

 - "Sreppos, rigidu , tttiKov, penna. 



