BLACK-WINGED BABBLER. 279 



hooked. In Timalia thoracica, on the contrary, the 

 lateral toes are of equal length and the claws slen- 

 der and much less curved. The first of these forms 

 indicates arboreal habits, the second terrestrial. 

 In this the bill is less arched above, and the tip 

 notched ; but in that the latter character does not 

 appear. On these considerations we place our bird 

 in the present group ; leaving for future inquiry the 

 question of direct affinity between this and Timalia 

 ihoracica. 



In size this species is rather less than a starling ; 

 it is at once known from all its congeners by a 

 greyish-white hood, which completely covers the 

 Lead, nape, ears, fore part of the neck, and termi- 

 nates abruptly just above the breast ; the space be-- 

 tveen the bill and the eye, is black, and this colour 

 forms a deep shade all round the sides of the hood 

 as just mentioned. The wings, tail, and inter- 

 scapulars are blackish brown ; the rest of the plu- 

 mage, both above and below, being of the darkest 

 rufous or chestnut, of the same colour, although less 

 bright, as that which tinges the corresponding parts 

 of Timalia thoracica; the bill is yellow ; the feet 

 brown ; and the claws pale. The feathers of the 

 back are remarkably long and soft, much more so 

 than in the bird just mentioned ; tail rounded, broad, 

 and soft. 



Total length, 8^ ; bill, 1 ; wings, 4 J ; tail beyond, 

 1^; ditto from the base, 3J; tarsus, 1^; hind-toe 

 and claw, 1 ; middle ditto, 1 T %. 



