82 capitonidjG. 



inner webs of secondaries and tertiaries with whitish margins -, 

 middle of back pure yellow, lower back and rump orange-yellow; 

 upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers blackish brown, except the 

 outermost (shorter) tail-feathers, which are paler and greyer ; lower 



Pig. 23. — Head of I. xanthonottis. 



parts dark grey ; the chin, throat, and fore neck tinged with yellow ; 

 breast and abdomen with blackish shaft-streaks, broader behind 

 vent • feathers and under tail-coverts blackish with pale edges ; 

 wing-lining whitish, edge of wing bulf. 



Bill yellow, ashy towards the tip ; iris dark brown ; naked orbital 

 area pale green ; feet pale greenish horny {StoUczIca). 



Length about 6 ; wing 3-8 ; tail 2-4 ; tarsus -6 ; bill from gape -5. 



Distribution. This species, which is very rare, has hitherto been 

 found only in the Himalayas, in Sikhira, and also near Murree and 

 Abbottabad, but nowhere in the intervening area. 



Habits, 4"C. The only published observations are by Stoliczka, 

 who shot a male close to Dungagali near Murree. This bird had 

 a heavy flight like Iler/alcema, and in the stomach were several 

 specimens of a predatory wasp and a small quantity of green 

 vegetable matter. 



Family CAPITONID^E. 



Bill as a rule stout and strong. Nostrils at base of bill, often 

 overhung by plumes and bristles. Eictal and chin bristles often 

 largely developed. Ventral feather-tract forked on the throat and 

 on each side of the breast. Tail-feathers 10. Wing rounded in all 

 Indian forms, and with 10 primaries, the first short. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. No green on plumage ; no rictal bristles . . Calorhamphus, p. 83, 

 h Prevailing colour green; long rictal bristles. 



a'. Lower tail-coverts red Megal^ma, p. 84. 



b'. Lower tail-coverts green. 



a". 2nd primary shorter than 10th. 

 a\ Head, neck, and breast brown, 



more or less streaked Thereiceeyx, p. 86. 



