386 PITTIDJE. 



and the secondaries fall short of the tip of the wing by a distance 

 greater than the length of the tarsus. The lower edge of the 

 inferior mandible is nearly straight. 



The sexes are dissimilar, but not very much so. I have not been 

 able to examine a young bird, but it will, without doubt, be found 

 to resemble the adult female. 



The only species of this genus inhabits the Himalayas, and 

 nothing appears to be known about its habits. Hodgson, fide 

 Jerdon, says that it feeds on small insects and viscid berries and 

 makes a pendulous nest. 



925. Pachyglossa melanoxantha. The Yellow-bellied Floiver-peclcer. 



Pachyglossa melanoxantha, Hoclys., Btyih, J. A. S. B. xii, p. 1010 



(1843) ; Jerd. B. I. i, p. 378 ; Hume, N. $ E. p. 160 ; Godw.-Aust. 



J. A. S. B. xliii, pt. ii, p. 156 ; Hume, 8. F. ii, p. 455 ; id. S. F. 



v, p. 348 ; id. Cat, no. 242 ; id, S. F\ xi, p. 85 ; Oates in Hume's 



N. # E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 279. 

 Prionochilus melanoxanthiis (Hodr/s.), Sclater, Ibis, 1874, p. 3, pi. i. 



fig. 3 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. x, p. 71. 



Coloration. Male. The whole upper plumnge, wings, tail, sides 

 of head, neck, and breast black, the outermost pair of tail-feathers, 

 or sometimes the two outer pairs with a patch of white on the 

 inner web near the tip ; middle of chin, throat, and breast white ; 

 remainder of the lower plumage bright yellow ; under wing-coverts 

 white. 



Female. Resembles the male, but the black is replaced by greenish 

 brown, becoming paler on the sides of the head, neck, and breast ; 

 abdomen and under tail-coverts duller yellow; middle of chin, 

 throat, and breast greyish white ; under wing-coverts and axillaries 

 white. 



Iris red ; legs dark plumbeous {Godwin- Austen). 



Length about 4-5 ; tail 1*7 ; wing 2-8 ; tarsus "55 ; bill from 

 gape -45. 



.Distribution. Sikhim and probably Nepal; extending toDibrugarh 

 in Assam and Sopoomah in the Naga hills. 



Family PITTID^. 



The intrinsic muscles of the syrinx fixed at or near the middle 

 of the bronchial semi-rings ; wing of ten primaries, the first of 

 considerable size and reaching nearly to the tip of the wing ; tarsus 

 elongated, the anterior covering entire and smooth ; tail very short 

 and of twelve feathers ; feathers of crown elongate and forming 

 a conspicuous crest when erected. 



