M. A. Hume on Indian Ornitholo[/y. 403 



magnum, subdesccndens, gonys ascendens : remiges tertius et 



quartus fere (nqualcs et longissimi. 



D. nuchalis S . Capite, gula, dorso et alis nigiis : prhnariis 



brunneo-nigris : macula magna nuchali, fascia atari et 



urypygio albis ; cauda nigro-brunnea : subtus albus; rostro 



corneo, mandibula ad basin nigricante ; pedibus nigris. 



Head, throat, and entire upper parts black, with shght bluish 



reflections upon the back ; a conspicuous white spot in the 



centre of the neck behind -, primaries brownish black, smaller 



coverts tipped with white forming an alar bar ; rump white ; 



upper tail-coverts black ; tail blackish brown, the feathers 



rather pointed ; entire underparts and flanks white; bill very 



thick at the base, converging to a sharp point, horn-colour ; 



the base of mandible and sides of maxilla blackish ; feet and 



tarsi black. 



Total length 5 inches; wing 2f in.; tail 2| in.; tarsus f in. 

 Hab. Orinoco, on the borders of British Guiana. 



The singular Finch here described was received by Madame 

 Verdey, of Paris, in a small collection obtained on the Orinoco 

 river, on the borders of British Guiana. In its general colora- 

 tion and in the markings of its plumage it is not unlike the 

 members of the genus Spermophila, and, were it not for its ex- 

 traordinary bill, would seem to find its place most naturally in 

 that genus. But the bill precludes such a disposition of this 

 species ; and indeed there is no genus known to me under which it 

 may be classified ; I have therefore proposed the term Do- 

 lospingus for this curious form. The type specimen was the only 

 one sent, and now belongs to the Museum of Natural History of 

 New York, for whose fine collection I have secured it. 



XXXni. — Stray Notes on Ornithology in India. 

 By Allan Hume, C. B. No. VII.^ 



I MENTIONED in ouc of my foruier letters that Otis tetraw and 

 Pterocles alchata (neither of which, so far as I know, occurs in 

 India east of the Indus) are during the cold season by no means 

 uncommon west of the Indus, at Murdan. By the kindness of 

 Johnson, of the Guides, a taxidermist of mine has been 

 * No. VI. (tntea, p. 23. 



