1844-45.] DESCEIPTIONS OF SOME NEW SPECIES OF BIEDS. 11 



first edged with blue on the external webs of the feathers, but not reaching to the tips of the 

 three first, so that when the wings arc closed they appear blue, excepting all the ends. The tail, 

 which is moderate, has only the two middle feathers wholly blue on the upper surface, the 

 remainder being so on their outer webs ; the under surface of the tail is deep black ; the bill 

 and feet are black. In form the bill resembles that of M. coerulea, Vieill., though it is rather 

 thicker and more robust. From Hong-Kong. 



Dimensions. inches. 



Total length Q-^^ 



Wing 2,^ 



Tail 2^0 



Tarsus -^ 



Middle toe ^ 



Hallux ^j 



Bill from base -po 



PhCENICOENIS ■? AUKEOPYGIA*, n. sp. 



This little bird does not strictly belong to the genus Phoenicornis, and it is with doubt, Madr.Journ. 



therefore, that I refer it to the group ; the distribution of its colours shows, however, a decided .'.V ^ ?^' 



. . . . ^^^'^- P- 1^0- 



affinity to P. jiCivgi'inus, and in other respects it seems nearly allied to it. 



The plumage is of a silky texture and puffy upon the rump, where it is of a ricli golden 



yellow, and of a lighter hue than tlie feathers of the throat and upper part of the breast, which 



are deep orange ; the lower part of the breast and the belly are rich lemon-yellow ; the flanks 



are dusky, and the under tail-coverts and scapulars pure white ; an orange-coloured streak 



commences at the base of the upper mandible and passes round the eye to the ears ; the remainder 



of the plumage is dull black. From Hong-Kong. 



Dimensions. inches. 



Total length 4^ 



Wing 2-,% 



Tail 2 



Tarsus -i% 



Middle toe ys 



Hallux YS 



MusciPETA ATEOCAUDATAt, Eyton 1, Cat. of Malay Birds, Proc. Zool. Soc. 



A lovely species of Muscipeta now before me, and shot near Hong-Kong, seems nearly to 

 agree with Eyton's description of the above-named bird. But as his description is very short and 

 is taken from a Malay specimen, I take this opportunity of fully describing my specimen, which 

 is evidently an adult. Head, cheeks, throat, breast, and tail coal-black without reflections ; belly 

 and under tail-coverts pure white ; flanks dusky ; back, shoulder, and wing-coverts deep glossy 

 maroon-purple, inclining to black on the upper tail-coverts. Primaries black ; secondaries edged 



* [I am unable to find any subsequent allusion to this species. — Ed.] 

 t \_=Miisviiieta princeps (Temm.). — Ed.] 



C 



2 



