280 CRATEEOPODID^:. 



Length about 9 ; tail 3-8 ; wing 3-8 ; tarsus -75 ; bill from 

 gape P 8. 



Distribution. The extreme southern part of Tenasserim. This 

 bird is found throughout the Malay peninsula and in Sumatra, 

 Java, and Borneo. 



Genus SPIZIXUS, Blyth, 1845. 



The genus Spizioeus contains three birds, one of which is found 

 in the hills of Assam and the others in China. This genus differs 

 remarkably from all the other genera of Bulbuls in the shape of 

 the bill, which is finch -like ; and in having the nostrils partially 

 concealed by overhanging plumelets. 



Little is known of the habits of this genus, and its position is 

 very uncertain. For the present I follow others in placing it 

 among the Bulbuls. Its position will probably be found hereafter 

 to be among the Sibiince. 



In Spizixus the crest is thick, long and pointed. The bill is 

 very short and deep, the culmen being gently curved throughout ; 

 the edges of the mandibles are slightly sinuated and notched near 

 the tips. The tail is perfectly square, and the tarsus short and 

 weak. 



292. Spizixus canifrons. The Finch-billed Bulbul. 



Spizixos canifrons, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiv, p. 571 (1845) ; id. Cat. 

 p. 339 ; Horsf. $ M. Cat. i, p. 251 ; Godw.-Aust. J.A.8. B. xxxix, 

 pt. ii, p. 106 ; xliii, pt. ii, p. 179 ; Blyth, Ibis, 1872, p. 90 ; Hume, 

 S. F. vii, p. 386 ; id. Cat. no. 453 bis ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vi, 

 p. 172 ; Hume, S. F. xi, p. 180 j Oates in Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. 

 i, p. 184. 



Fig. 89. Head of 8. canifrons. 



Coloration. Forehead and front part of the crown ashy grey ; 

 remainder of crown, lores, and round the eye black ; cheeks and 

 point of the chin blackish, the feathers with greyish-white tips ; 

 ear-coverts pale brown ; sides of the neck, meeting narrowly behind 

 the nape, grey streaked slightly with blackish ; throat very dark 

 brown, shading off into ashy brown ; upper plumage and vving- 

 coverts~green ; wings dark brown, the outer webs greenish yellow ; 



