172 Rev. H, H. Slater on a CoUection 



~\ 4. SUTHORA DAVIDIANA, n. Sp. (PL IV. fig. 1.) 



The gem of the collection. The smaller Suthoras are 

 divided into two groups by the Key in the B. M. Cat., vii. 

 p. 486. The S. humii group have black throats and parti- 

 coloured plumage, the head and back being of much the 

 same tint. The S. conspicillata group have plain throats 

 and are modest-coloured; the head different in colour from 

 the back. The present species falls into neither section ; it 

 resembles the S. humii party in possessing a black throat, 

 and the S. conspicillata group in having a red head and 

 plain dusky back and wings. I regret to point out that this 

 discovery spoils the Key. 



Description. — Head rich chestnut, extending over the nape 

 and sides of the head ; back grey, with a faint brown tint on 

 the tips of the feathers ; wings, including the coverts, earthy 

 brown, the primaries with sandy outer margins ; upper tail- 

 coverts sandy; tail dusky brown, with broad dull rufous 

 external margins to the remiges ; throat black, with minute 

 white tips to the feathers where they meet the grey-white 

 chest; rest of underparts sandy grey, more ruddy on the 

 flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts. Length 3*9 inches, 

 culmen 0"3, wing 2 to 205, tail 1-6, tarsus -66. 



It will be seen that this species is proportionately shorter 

 in the tail than any other of the family. It is quite dis- 

 tinct from S. humii, S. poliotis, and S. nipalensis, in having 

 no black, white, or grey on the sides or top of the head. 

 S. verreauxi (S. gularis of Verreaux) I have not seen, but, 

 judging from Verreaux's figure (Nouv. Arch.viii. pi. vi., 1872), 

 the latter has a white eyebrow, the crown of the same colour 

 as the back, and bright chestnut wings, which will not do for 

 the present bird at all. The description of S. alphonsiana, 

 Verr., gives no black throat, and the sides of the head rosy 

 grey, as in S. bulomachus. i 



5. SuTHORA BULOMACHUS, Swiuh. 



One specimen. I am led to make a further remark on the 

 genus Suthora. Messrs. Seebohm and Styan reviewed this 

 genus, so far as it related to Chinese species, in 'The Ibis,' 1894, 



