20 Mr. T. C. Jerdon on some New Species of Birds 



beneath, with yeUowish under tail-coverts, and the ears with the 

 barbs of the feathers dead-white *. 



(1.) Crypsirhina (Temia) cucullata, Jerdon, n. sp. 



White, head and neck deep glossy black; the rest of the 

 plumage pale, somewhat brownish ash-colour, faintly glossed 

 with a vinous tinge on the tertiaries, tail-feathers, and the plu- 

 mage beneath ; a serai-collar of white round the upper part of the 

 neck, separating the black from the ash colour ; quills unglossed 

 black ; some of the secondaries edged externally with ashy white, 

 and the wing-coverts also faintly edged with the same, forming 

 a longitudinal light bar along the wing ; the centre tail-feathers 

 black, widened at the tip, suddenly on the outer web, gra- 

 dually on the inner web ; bill black ; legs brown-black ; iris very 

 pale glaucous-blue. Length 12 inches ; expanse 13 ; wing 4|- ; 

 tail 7 ; bill -|; tarsus 1. 



The tail is much graduated, and as in its congener, Crypsi- 

 rhina [Temia) varians, consists of ten feathers. Compared with 

 that bird, the tail-feathers, judging from a drawing I have, are 

 much narrower, and the broad termination more marked. The 

 bill also appears to be comparatively shorter. 



I found this neatly plumaged little Magpie not rare at Tha- 

 yetmyo, in Upper Burmah. It was generally seen singlv, now 

 and then in pairs ; wanders about a good deal in low jungle, and 

 feeds on grasshoppers, locusts, Mantides, and the like. I have 

 seen it catching white ants, as they issued from their nest in 

 the winged state, with considerable dexterity, returning usually 

 to the same perch. It breeds early, I imagine, for I killed young- 

 birds in June. They differ from the old ones in having the 

 hood dusky-ashy, instead of black. A native Shikaree assured 

 me that it occasionally perched on the backs of cattle, to devour 

 the insects that often infest them. 



(2.) Pericrocotus albifrons, Jerdon, n. sp. 



Male. — Crown of head, nape, back, wings, and tail glossy 

 black ; forehead and a wide supercilium white ; lores and ear- 

 coverts mixed white and black ; chin, throat, sides of neck, 

 nearly meeting on the back of the neck, the greater coverts, 



* If new, Pycnonotus blanfordi, Jerdon. 



