384 diCjEiDjB. 



Coloration. Eesembles Piprisoma squalidum, but has the upper 

 plumage a brighter green, the sides of the head greener and the 

 streaks below darker and more distinct. The chief difference, 

 however, lies in the form of the lower mandible of the bill, which 

 in P. squalidum is very large, swollen, and much bent upwards in 

 front of the augle of the genys, whereas in the present species it 

 is very slender and nearly straight. 



Length about 4 ; tail 1*2 ; wing 2-4 ; tarsus -45 ; bill from 

 gape *4. 



Distribution. Probably throughout Burma, for Davison procured 

 it at Amherst, Mergui, and Malawun, and Bingham in the Thoung- 

 yeen valley. I obtained it several times near the town of Pegu, 

 and I at one time wrongly identified my specimens with P. agile 

 (P. squalidum). I have now reexamined my birds and find them 

 to be the present species as suggested by Hume. In the Hume 

 Collection there is a specimen procured in Cachar. I have examined 

 this bird with the greatest care and find it to be the present 

 species and not P. squalidum, to which Hume, probably by an over- 

 sight, refers it (S. F. xi, p. 85). 



Genus PRIONOCHILUS, Strickl., 1841. 



The genus Prionochilus contains two Indian species, the males 

 of which are brightly coloured. The females are not very dis- 

 similar to the males. 



In this genus the bill is of the same shape as in Acmonorhynchus, 

 but the sides are slightly concave when viewed from above. The 

 naral bristles are entirely absent. The wing has ten primaries, the 

 first of which is of considerable size. The tail is scpuare. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Upper plumage blue P. iynicapillus S , P- 384. 



h. Upper plumage green. 



a. Lower plumage unstreaked P. iynicapillus $, p. o84. 



b' . Lower plumage streaked. 



a". Crown-patch crimson P. maculatus S , P- 385. 



b". Crown-patch orange-yellow P> maculatus $ , p. 385. 



923. Prionochilus ignicapillus. The Crimson-breasted Flower- 

 pecker. 



Dieseum ignicapilla, Eyton, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 105. 



Prionochilus percussus {TemmXapud Blyth, Cat. p. 227 ; Mors/, cy 



M. Cat. ii, p. 751 ; Hume § Dav. 8. F. vi, p. 196 ; Hume, Cat. 



no. 240 quat. ; Oates, B. B. i, p. 339. 

 Prionochilus ignicapillus {Eyt.), Sharpe, Cat. B. 31. x, p. 65. 



Coloration. Male. The whole upper plumage, sides of the head 

 and neck, and lesser wing-coverts dull blue ; a patch of crimson on 

 the centre of the crown ; tail brown, washed with blue on the 

 outer webs ; greater wing-coverts brown, edged with dull blue ; 



