MICROSCELIS. 369 
pointed, the secondaries falling short of the tip by a considerable 
distance. The tail is distinctly forked and the outer feathers 
curved outwards, The tarsus is smooth and very short (see fig. 70, 
p. 360), being between a sixth and a seventh of the length of the 
wing. There is only one species found within our limits but that 
is represented by numerous geographical races. The genus 
extends from India to Japan. 
Microscelis psaroides., 
Key to Subspecies. 
A. Crownof head black, contrasting with paler 
grey of back and clearly detined from it. 
a. A black streak behind and under the ear- 
coverts. [p. 369. 
a’. Paler grey both above and below..., M. psaroides psaroides, 
b'. Darker bluish grey above and below. M. p. nigrescens, p. 871. 
6. No black streak behind or under the ear- 
COV CLUS IE Py eter sieyei sare is! tld si'sie Aas ats M. p. ganeesa, p. 372. 
B. Crown of head black, gradually merging 
into the blackish grey of back and upper 
parts M. p. concolor, p. 872. 
Fig. 73.—Tail of M. p. psaroides. 
(386) Microscelis psaroides psaroides. 
THE Himanayan Buacx Bupuu. 
Hypsipetes psaroides Vigors, P. Z.S., 1831, p. 48 (Himalayas, Simla) ; 
Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 260. 
Vernacular names. Ban Bakra (at Mussoorie); Phaki-pho 
(Lepcha); Durkal (Chamba). 
Description. Crown from forehead to nape, lores, a” spot at 
the base of the lower mandible, another at the angle of the chin 
and a broad stripe round the ear-coverts black: a spot above the 
lores grey ; upper plumage and wing-coverts dark grey ; remainder 
VOL. I. 2B 
