56 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Bill and legs blackish ; irides red-brown. Length 14 inches ; 

 extent 14 ; wing 4f ; tail 8| ; bill at front | ; tarsus ly^j. 



This curious looking bird is the type of Blyth's Heteropkasia, 

 which, as he says, has a very cuculideous appearance altogether. 

 It differs from the more common species in its longer bill, longer 

 wino"s, and gently lengthened tail, as well as in its mode of colora- 

 tion ; and, if other species are discovered resembling it, will 

 deserve separation. It bears towards S. capistrata much the same 

 relation as Volvocivora silens does towards V. Sykesii. 



It has only been found in Nepal, Sikhim, and Bootan. I found it 

 not uncommon near Darjeeling at about 4,000 feet of elevation, 

 associating in flocks of six or seven, and flying from tree to tree, 

 feedino- both on fruit and insects, and keeping up a continual 

 whistling sort of caU. 



Two other species of Sihia are on record ; one from Assam, <S^. 

 gracilis, McLell., which I found rather common on the Khasia hills 

 at about 5,000 feet high ; and S. melanoleuca, Tickell, from 

 Tenasserim. They both belong to the type of Capistrata. 



The bird described and figured by Nicholson in theProc. Zool. Soc. 

 for 1851, page 195, as Artamus micullatus, has much the aspect of 

 Sihia gracilis. Its habits, as described, are certainly not those of 

 Artamus, or any similar bird ; but, unless it be a Sibia or allied 

 form, I know not where else to class it. I shall here transcribe the 

 account of the bird from the work above quoted. It is said to be 

 from India, but the locality is not mentioned. The Tailor-bird de- 

 scribed in the previous page was from Western India, Raj cote and 

 Surat. 



" Head large ; bill strong, narrow, and sharp, gently arched on 

 the culmen ; a distinct notch near the tip of upper mandible ; gape 

 wide ; tongue horny and divided at the point ; nostrils basal, small ; 

 eye rather small ; iris of a silvery colour, tinged with yellow ; wings 

 rounded ; first quill very short, third longest, Second, third, and 

 fourth quills eraarginate on outer web ; tail short, and nearly even 

 at the end, of twelve feathers, 2| inches long ; tarsus strong ' 

 hallux and claw stronger than the other toes, and as long as the 

 inner toe, and has a large pad at its base ; the outer toe is shorter ; 

 the claws are much hooked ; plumage is soft and loose. 



