78 Miscellaneous. 



by the Timalite and Crateropi, to both of which, and especially to the 

 former, it bears in much of its structure the same close resemblance 

 that it does also in its manners ; for all these birds alike have lax 

 feeble plumage, short rounded wings, longish, broad, frail, subgra- 

 dated tails, and very large, yet not typically, terrestrial feet, though 

 the habits are essentially terrene and rasorial. But whereas the 

 TimalicB and Crateropi have a more or less meruline bill, slender, and 

 provided with membraned and open nares, the present birds, which 

 we shall denominate generically Conostoma, have the massive bill and 

 simple concealed nares of the magpies. The bill of the Crypsirinte 

 vel Dendrocittae, or tree-magpies in particular, has much resemblance 

 to that of the Conostomce, owing to the clear arcuation of its whole 

 commissure, and to the perfect entireness of its tip. There are dif- 

 ferences, however, between the two even in the bills, inasmuch as 

 that of Conostoma is more compressed, with sides less tumid yet 

 broader ridges ; while in Crypsirinte the other members, such as the 

 long gradated tail, short tarsi, and considerably pointed wings, indi- 

 cate habits less terrestrial than those of our bird. Conostoma is 

 clearly a typical example of the Glaucopince of Swainson, and its na- 

 tural position would seem to be between Glaucopis and CrypsirineB. 

 In manners the present species is a shy forester, adhering to the 

 wilds, and tenanting the skirts of forests w r here brush-wood as well 

 as trees abound. Five or six birds are usually found together, chat- 

 tering, hopping and scraping on the ground, and resorting to the 

 trees and shrubs chiefly for shelter. Their food is principally insects 

 of the soft and imperfect kind in summer ; but in winter they doubt- 

 less take some vegetable food. Their essential form may be charac- 

 terized thus : — 



Bill short, strong, conico-compressed, with broad rounded ridges 

 and vertical sides ; the culmen and commissure entirely arched ; the 

 tips equal, obtuse, and entire. Nostrils circular, unfossed, furnished 

 with a membranous raised edge all round, and concealed by incum- 

 bent setaceous plumuli. Rictus provided with a close series of short 

 bristles. Wings short, feeble, almost entirely rounded ; the 6th, 7th 

 and 8th quills usually equal and longest. Tail slightly elongated, 

 rounded, consisting of twelve broad simple plumes. Feet very large 

 and strong, yet not typically ambulator}'-. Tarsi elevate, nearly or 

 quite smooth, exceeding much the central toe and nail. Toes me- 

 dial, unequal; fores basally connected, and outer lateral considerably 

 longer than the inner. Hind- toe large, depressed, exceeding the 

 outer fore, and with its large nail reaching to the middle of the cen- 

 tral toe and nail. Nails simple, large, scarcely so acute or so curved 

 as in Crypsirince. 



Habitat, the northern region close to the perpetual snows. 

 Type, Conostoma CEmodius, Nob. new. 

 Spec. Char. — Conostoma with head, neck and body above dull olive- 

 brown, clearest on the secondary alars ; below paler, and passing 

 into sordid slaty blue, which forms everywhere the interior colour 

 of the plumage. Iris brownish. Bill dull orange. Legs slaty gray. 

 Sexes alike. Bill to tail 11| inches ; bill J ; tail 4 J ; tarsus l\jr. 

 Central toe and nail 1-^ ; hind- toe and nail 1^. Weight 3£ oz. 



