NOVELTIES. 507 



Suya obscura, Sp. Nov. 



Allied to Suya crinigera, but considerably smaller; more rufescent above ; 

 purer white on throat and centre of abdomen ; striations of head 

 and back much feebler ; subterminal tail band stronger and more 

 marked ; and extreme tips of lateral tail feathers pale rufous. 



This species, which was obtained in Cashmere by Captain 

 Biddulph, is a small representative of crinigera. The following 

 are dimensions : — 



Length, 6 ; wing, barely, 2*1 ; tail, from vent, 3 ; tarsus, 

 0*9 ; bill, at front, 0-4. 



The legs and feet are fleshy ; upper mandible pale brown ; 

 gape and lower mandible horny yellow. 



The entire upper parts are a slightly rufescent olive brown ; 

 the feathers of the head obscurely centred darker ; a trace of 

 the same on the feathers of the interscapulary region ; wings 

 hair brown ; all the feathers narrowly margined on the outer 

 webs with dull pale rufous ; the tail feathers brown, obsolete- 

 ly barred darker, fringed at the margins, and all but the central 

 feathers narrowly tipped, with dull pale rufescent, and with 

 broad dark bi'own subterminal bands most conspicuous on the 

 lower surface, which is greyish brown ; a short whitish 

 streak through the upper portion of the lores ; cheeks and ear- 

 coverts mingled pale brown and olivaceous white ; chin, throat, 

 and middle of abdomen almost pure white; breast faintly, 

 sides more strongly, tinged olivaceous ; flanks, lower tail-coverts, 

 and tibial plumes rufescent fawn. 



Orthotomus nitidus, Sp. Nov. 



Resembles 0. flavoviridis, Moore, but is brighter colored, has the rufous 

 of the head paler, and entirely wants the black on the throat and fore 

 part of the neck. 



"We obtained in several places in Tenasserim a brightly 

 colored, and, I believe, hitherto undescribed species of Tailor- 

 bird, the nearest ally of which is flavoviridis of Moore, from 

 which, however, it differs, as above pointed out. 



Unfortunately none of our specimens were measured in the 

 flesh, and none, though otherwise fine specimens, have elongated 

 central tail feathers ; but this may be due to sex, for all are 

 females, or possibly to the season at which they were killed. 



