TIMALIN^. 1 1 



The Red-billed Jay-thrush. 



Descr. — Head, neck, and body above, dull olive-brown, clearest 

 on the secondaries, and most rufcscent on tlic wings ; the outer edge 

 of the first three primaries pale rufcscent or vinous; beneath paler, 

 and passing into dusky slaty blue, all tlie feathers at their base 

 being of that tint. 



Bill dull orange; legs slaty grey; iridesbrown. Length 1\\ inches; 

 wing 5 ; tail 4|; tarsus l-f^ ; bill 'at front |th, nearly \ itieh deep. 



This bird has hitherto been only procured in Nepal and Sikhim. 

 I got one specimen from Mt. Tongloo, close to the Nepal frontier. 

 Hodgson says that its habits are terrene and rasorial. 



" It is," says he, " a sliy forester, adhering to the wilds, and 

 tenanting the skirts of forests, where brush-wood as well as trees 

 abound. Five or six of these birds are usually found together, 

 chattering, hopping and feeding on the ground, and resorting to 

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

 in summer, but in winter, doubtless, they take some vegetable food. 

 They inhabit the northern region of Nepal, close to the snows." 



The next genus, though somewhat allied in form, difl'ers in its 

 longer and less deep bill, in the apert nostrils, and shorter claws. 

 Like the last, it is composed but of a single species, which was by 

 some considered congeneric with a New Zealand bird, but has lately 

 been separated from it.* 



Gen. Grammatoptila, Reich, 



Syn. Turnagra, apud Blyth — Keropia, Gray. 



Char. — Bill short, stout, moderately compressed, gently curving 

 from the base, slightly hooked and notched; nostrils obliquely 

 oval, exposed ; a few thin rictal bristles ; wings short, rounded, 

 5th and 6th quills longest ; tarsus strong ; feet stout ; lateral toes 

 slightly unequal, claws moderate, broad. Crested. 



382. Grammatoptila striata, Vigors. 



Garrulus, apud A^igoks, P. Z. S., 1830— Gould, Century, pi. 

 37 — Blytii, Cat. 480 — Horsf. Cat. 301 — Naminok-j)hOj Lepch — 

 Kojiiam, Bhot. 



* The New Zealand bird, Keropia crassirostris, appears to me related to the 

 Bower-birds of Australia. 



