LEIOTRTCHIN^i:. 265 



' It extends from Nepal, through Sikhim to Arrakan, and even to 

 the Malay Peninsula. This extended geographical distribution, 

 I may remark, is, in some degree, in favor of its relationship to 

 Zosterops. 



'We next genus differs from the preceding ones in havino- 

 a wide geographical distribution, and comprising numerous species. 

 Gen. Zosterops. 



Char. — Bill somewhat conic, stout, acute at the tip, slightly but 

 distinctly notched ; culmen slightly curved ; rictus smooth ; eyes 

 surrounded by close-set white feathers ; nostrils lengthened, exposed : 

 wings moderate, 3rd and 4th primaries about equal and iono-est ; 

 1st a little shorter than 2nd ; tail short, even ; tarsus moderate ; toes 

 strongish, two laterals nearly equal, outer syndactyle ; hind toe 

 strong ; claw Avell curved. 



Horsfield classes Zosterops in his Pycnonotin(B, between Myzornis 

 and lorn ; Gray in his Mniotiltina next to Yukina ; and Bonaparte 

 and Blyth in MelliphagincB. Some of the species extend from 

 India, through the isles, to Australia even, the head quarters of 

 the Honey-eaters; but also to the Mauritius, Madagascar, and 

 Africa; this distribution in Africa is against the view of its 

 being a really Melliphagous genus ; and, as it undoubtedly has 

 affinities with the birds with which it is placed here, I prefer 

 keeping it in this group. 



631. Zosterops palpebrosus, Temminck. 



Sylvia, apud Temm., Ph, Col. 293 f. 3~Z. Maderaspatana, 

 Auct. Blyth, Cat. 1333— Horsf., Cat. 406— Jerdon, Cat. 128. 

 The White-eted Tit. 



Descr. — Above light siskin green, with a circle of close white 

 feathers round the eye ; throat and upper breast canary yellow ; 

 belly bluish white ; leg feathers, lower tail-coverts, and some of the 

 feathers on the abdomen, tinged with pale yellow. 



Bill blackish, horny at the base beneath ; legs reddish horny ; 

 irides light yellow-brown. Length 4^ inches; Aving 2y% ; tail l^-^ ; 

 bill at front /^ ; tarsus f ; extent 6|. 



This bird is spread tliroughout the whole of India, from the 

 Himalayas to the extreme south, and extends to Assam, Arrakan, 



2 L 



