178 CRATEBOPODID-dE. 



b. Tail much shorter than tarsus. 



e". Breadth of bill at the nostrils greater 



than its depth TESIA, p. 191. 



/". Breadth of bill at the nostrils equal to 



its depth OLIGURA, p. 193. 



Genus MYIOPHONEUS, Temminck, 1823. 



The genus Myiophoneus contains a few species of birds of very 

 brilliant blue plumage. Three occur within our limits and others 

 are found in China and the Malayan islands. 



In Myiophoneus the bill is very stout, but somewhat shorter than 

 the head, compressed laterally, and considerably hooked at the tip, 

 and the nostrils are round. The wing is rounded, but not nearly 

 so much so as in Arrenga. The legs and feet are remarkably strong. 



The young birds are very similar to the adults, but for the first 

 few weeks or perhaps months the brilliant glossy spots of the adult 

 are absent. The adults of both sexes resemble each other. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Bill more or less yellow. 



'. Median wing-coverts tipped white M. temmincld, p. 178. 



b'. Median wing-coverts plain M, en genii, p. 179. 



ft. Bill entirely black M. horsjieldi, p. ] 80. 



187. Myiophoneus temmincki. The Himalayan Whistling-Thrush. 



Myiophomis temminckii, Vigors, P.Z.S. 1831, p. 171; Gould, Cent. 



pi. 21 j Blyth, Cat. p. 159; Jerd. B. I.\, p. 500 ; Hume, N. # E. 



p. 221 ; Hume Sf Henderson, Lah. to Yark. p. 187 ; Hume, 8. F. 



li, p. 331, hi, p. 105 ; id. Cat. no. 343 ; Scully, S. F. viii, p. 281 ; 



Oates, B. B. i, p. 18 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vii, p. 7 ; Hume, S. F. 



xi, p. 122 ; Oates in Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. i, p. 120. 

 Myiophonus cseruleus (Scop.), apud Horsf. fy M. Cat. i, p. 199. 



The Yellow-billed Whistling-Thrush, Jerd. ; Kastura, of the Hills (N.W. 

 Himalaya) ; Kaljit, of the Boon ; Chamong-pho } Lepch. ; Tetiman, Bhut. ; 

 Simtung, Khasi. 



Coloration. Lores and base of forehead black, the forehead higher 

 up bright cobalt-blue ; the whole plumage blue, each feather tipped 

 with glistening blue ; wings and tail overlaid with cobalt-blue on 

 the outer webs ; lesser wing-coverts black, with broad margins of 

 glistening cobalt-blue ; median wing-coverts tipped with white. 



The young have the upper plumage and wings dull blue without 

 the glistening tips ; the whole lower plumage dull black ; tail like 

 that of the adult. 



Bill yellow, the culmen and the base of the upper mandible 

 blackish ; iris brown ; feet and claws black. 



Length about 13'5 ; tail 5-5 ; wing 7 ; tarsus 2'1 ; bill from 

 gape 1'6. 



Distribution. The Himalayas from the Hazara country and Grilgit 

 to the Daphla hills in Assam ; the hill-ranges south of Assam ; 



