Zoological Society, 131 



which I am acquainted. Mr. Blyth makes it the type of his genus 

 Ixidia. 



Pycnonotus melanocephoJus (Gm.), {Ixos atriceps, Tern. PI. Col. 

 147.) — This seems to be the Ixos metallicus of Mr. Eyton, in which 

 case the length, eight inches, assigned by him (Ann. Nat. Hist. v. xvi. 

 p. 228), is probably a misprint, as the specimens before me hardly 

 exceed six inches. 



Pycnonotus crocorrhous, Strickl., Ann. Nat. Hist. v. xiii. p. 412. — 

 A specimen before me has the vent pale scarlet, and is evidently the 

 Hccmatornis chrysorrhoides, Lafr., Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 367, but is 

 otherwise identical with that formerly described, in which the vent 

 is ochreous-yellow. These differences may be sexual. It differs 

 from Pycnonotus hcemorrhous of Southern India in having the ear- 

 covers and lower parts nearly white, and in other respects. 



Myiagra pyrrhoptera (Tem.), PL Col. 596. f. 2. {Muscipeta plumosa, 

 Blyth ; Philentoma castanea, Eyton.) — This bird is intermediate be- 

 tween Myiagra and Muscipeta, but the development of the uropygial 

 feathers alluded to by Mr. Eyton is hardly sufficient to form a generic 

 distinction. It is probable that the long downy feathers of the lower 

 back and rump, which admit of being expanded laterally, like an 

 umbrella, over the wings, and which we meet with in many distinct 

 groups of tropical Insessores, as the Formicariince of America, the 

 Laniariince of Africa, and the Pycnonotinm and Timaliince of Asia, may 

 be a provision of nature against the violent and long-continued rains 

 of the torrid zone. The species of Flycatcher before us, and the one 

 which follows, may, from their mode of life or geographical distri- 

 bution, be more exposed to rain than the other species of Myiagra, 

 and may be provided with extra clothing accordingly. 



Myiagra pectoralis, Lord Arthur Hay in Madras Journ., March 

 1846. — This is another species, in which the dorsal and hypochondrial 

 feathers are lengthened and thickened, even to a greater degree than 

 in the last. The whole plumage is uniform plumbeous blue, except 

 the lores and chin, which are blackish ; the flanks, which are streaked 

 with whitish ; and the inner webs of the remiges and rectrices, which 

 are black. Beak and legs black, the former strong, the rictal bristles 

 reaching two-thirds of its length. The first three remiges graduated, 

 the fourth and fifth equal. Total length, 7-^ inches ; beak to front, 

 7 lin. ; to gape, 11 lin. ; height, 2j lin. ; breadth, 4^ lin. ; wing, 3 in. 

 10 lin. ; medial rectrices, 3^ in. ; external ditto, 3 in. 5 lin. ; tarsus, 

 7 lin. A younger specimen is marked with rufous on the wing- 

 covers, abdomen and lower tail- covers. According to Lord A. Hay, 

 the above-described is the female, the male having the breast claret- 

 coloured, a state of plumage which I have not seen. 



Peuicrocotus modestus, Strickland. P. corpora supra cinereo 

 subtus alho, remigibus atris, prima^'iis 5 ad 9 et secundariis om- 

 nibus fascid subbasali albd ; rectricibus atris, alba large termi- 

 natis. 



Above uniform cinereous ; front whitish ; lores black ; remiges 

 blackish, the medial portion of their inner webs white ; the fifth to 



