28 , BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Besides the affinity of Pellorneum for some of the last noticed 

 group, there is also considerable similarity to at least one of 

 the next birds mentioned, the Pomatorhini. Other species of 

 Pellorneum recorded are P. fuscocnpilhan, Blyth, from Ceylon, 

 formerly classed as Drymocataphus ; P. Tickelli, Blyth, from Tenas- 

 serim ; and a closely allied species from the Khasia hills. 



At the end of this Section, Bonaparte places two Oceanic types, 

 Clitonyx^ Reich, and Certhiparus, Lafresn., with what justice I 

 cannot say. 



The next group is one which shows the extreme form from the 

 species of this family first noticed ; for while in Paradoxornis and 

 Suthora, the bill was reduced to its minimum in length and maxi- 

 mum depth, here it is extremely elongated, slender, and curved, 

 varying of course In the different species. 



Gen. PoMATOEHiNUS, Horsf. 



Char. — Bill long, compressed, pointed, much curved throughout, 

 entire at the tip; nostrils barely apert, lengthened; a few very 

 small rictal bristles; wing short, rounded; 5th and 6th quills longest; 

 tail long or moderate, rounded ; tarsi and feet long and stout ; 

 anterior toes not much elongate ; hind toe large ; claws large, 

 moderately curved, somewhat blunt. 



Bonaparte ranges this genus with the Babblers, his Crateropodincs ; 

 but it is certainly more nearly allied both in plumage and habits to 

 the Gari'ulax series. It is found in India and Malayana, extend- 

 ing to Australia, but of a somewhat different type. They hunt 

 in pairs, and less in parties than many of this family, and their 

 diet is exclusively insects, in seeking for which on the ground 

 they are said to use their bills freely like Upupa, but I have 

 not had an opportunity of observing them thus employed; and 

 from the thick brushwood and tangled brakes they usually fre- 

 quent, it is difficult to Avatch them closely. Though not habi- 

 tually frequenting the open forests, they are never found away 

 from a forest country. They nidificate in banks generally, and 

 the eggs of those that are known are white. 



The first species in our list is a slightly aberrant form ; its bill 

 being shorter and less arched, and it has much resemblance to 

 Pellurneum ruftccps. 



