962 TIDEE 
TIMELIA 
TIDEE, TIDIF, TYDIF and TYTYFR (spelling uncertain), 
obsolete names, but the second and third are used by Chaucer (¢/. 
Skeat’s ed. iii. p. 76, iv. p. 479, v. p. 386), and most likely signify 
a TITMOUSE.1 
TIDLY-GOLDFINCH, said to be a name for the Goldcrest. 
TIMELIA, amended from 7%malia,? the generic name, since 
used as English, apphed by Horsfield in 1820 (Zrans, Linn. Soe. 
xiii. p. 150) to a small bird he discovered in Java, and two years 
later figured and more fully described (Zool. Res, 
pl. 43, fig. 1)—T. pileata. It has a strong bill, 
arched and much compressed, the wings short 
and much incurved, the plumage generally long 
and lax, a rather long and graduated tail and 
moderately stout feet. The sexes are outwardly 
alike, except in point of size, and it is a pretty 
bird with a bright bay crown, and a white line 
TIMELIA. from the base of the black bill over the eye, 
(After Horstel-) contrasting also with the black lore, while the 
rest of the upper parts are olive, the rectrices darker and trans- 
versely barred by a deeper shade: the cheeks, throat and neck 
are white—the last with fine longitudinal black streaks, while the 
breast and other lower parts are of a pale tawny. The species, 
declared by Mr. Oates (Faun. Br. Ind. i. p. 131) to be the only one 
of the genus, is now admitted to have a widish range on the 
Asiatic continent from Cochin-China to Nepal ; but the statements, 
though made on good authority (Jerdon, B. India, uu. p. 24, and 
Sharpe, Cat. Br. B. vi. p. 508) of its occurrence in Malacca, are 
doubted by Mr. Oates (wf supra, p. 132). It has a pleasant song, 
and is described as affecting the neighbourhood of cultivation in 
Java, but in India its habits seem to be more retiring, for though 
said to be an active, bright bird, it keeps creeping about the grass 
near the ground, and seldom shews itself. It builds a domed nest 
in a lowly position and therein lays 3 eggs, white speckled with 
brown. 
These particulars are dwelt wpon because this little bird has of 
late years been set in such a position as none other has ever occu- 
pied. Around it, or upon it, have been heaped, one after another, 
or whole groups at a time, many of the most incongruous forms of 
Passeres from all parts of the world, until the “Family Timeliidx” 
became a confused mass, the like of which had not been seen since 
systematic ornithology began. The practice of referrmg some 
DAT PRAI ta j 
! In the copy before mentioned (p. 680, note 2) of Belon’s Portraits, the figure 
of Parus major is inscribed ‘‘ Collmouse, A Tydie.” 
2 The derivation suggested is Tyudw, I honour, and fos, the sun. The 
correction is Sundevall’s in 1872 (Zentamen, p. 11). 
