37S BIllDS OF INDIA. 



242. Pachyglossa melanoxantha, Hodgson. 



J. A. S., XII., 1010. 



The Yellow-bellied Flower-pecker. 



Descr. — Above dusky-cinereous, tinged with olive-green on the 

 head and elsewhere; upper tail-coverts green; beneath paler.; 

 throat white, passing down the centre of the fore-neck and breast ; 

 belly and lower tail-coverts bright yellow ; axillaries and inside of 

 the wings white ; outer tail-feathers with a large subterminal white 

 spot on the inner web ; the next with a similar but smaller spot. 



Bill blackish ; base of lower mandible yellow ; feet greenish. 



Length 4^ inches ; wing 2| ; tail 1| ; bill at front /g-; tarsus 

 \ inch. 



This curious little bird has hitherto only been found in Nepal. 

 Hodgson says that it feeds on small insects and viscid berries, 

 and makes an ingenious pendulous nest, like Myzanthe. I was not 

 fortunate enough to procure this bird in Sikhim. 



The PromeropincB, from Africa, are of rather large size ; with 

 long, slightly curved, bill ; a feathered tongue, a long cuneate tail, 

 and magnificent plumage. 



The Drepanince, chiefly from the oceanic province, have a mode- 

 rate or long arched bill, wings with nine primaries, and a short even 

 tail, the tarsus somewhat long. They ajDproximate the Dicceince. 



The American Ccsrehince have the bill moderate, straight, or 

 very little arched, somewhat stout, and notched ; the longish 

 wings have nine primaries, with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th longest ; the 

 tail is short or moderate, and the plumage brilliant. Like Certhia, 

 they creep over trees and feed on honey and insects ; some building 

 hanging nests, with a funnel entrance from below, Avhile others 

 have two compartments, in the inner of which the eggs are laid. 



Fam. Certhiad^, Creepers. 



Bill compressed, acute, entire, usually long, straight or much 

 curA^ed ; feet large ; toes often syndactyle ; hind toe and claw 

 large ; tail generally long and cuneated, sometimes short and 

 nearly even. 



