IN JERDON OR STRAY FEATHERS. 395 



irides pale orange. A very narrow pale line from the nostrils 

 over the eye, almost 'meeting on the forehead, which line, very 

 apparent in the freshly-killed bird, is hardly traceable in badly- 

 preserved skins. 



The bill in this species is really much smaller and feebler 

 than that of P. socialis, P. flaviventris, P. stewarti, or P. gra- 

 cilis, aud is about the same size as that of P. hodgsoni. 



This species differs conspicuously from P. gracilis in the con- 

 colorous back and head, and the generally paler and greener tint 

 of the upper parts. I at one time fancied that this might be 

 Dr. Jerdon's P. adamsi (B. Ind., II., p. 170) ; but that has 

 ten, while this has always twelve tail feathers. 



These little birds are common (climbing and flitting about 

 restlessly in low scrub jungle) throughout the North-West Pro- 

 vinces and the Panjab, in suitable localities. 1 have never 

 found them in fields or gardens, but always amongst scattered 

 stunted bushes or waste places. 



The stomachs of all I examined contained tiny ants and 

 almost microscopical beetles. — Hume, " Ibis" 1870, i44. 



543 6/5.— Drymoica fusca, Hodgs. 



Type, Prima fusca, mihi. — Length, 5 inches ; bill, 0*56 ; tail; 

 2'6; wing, less 1'75; tarsi, 0*81; central toe and nail, 0*56 

 hind, '48. Above lutescent brown ; laterally luteous ; below 

 white ; tips of the caudals with black drops, margined with 

 white ; bill dusky ; legs corneous ; iris brown. — Hodgs. , P. Z. S. 

 1845, 29. 



545 ter. — Drymoica valida, Blyth. 



Differs from D. sylvatica of the Nilgiris in its darker shade 

 of colour above, and larger and stronger bill and legs, which 

 last appear to have been of a deep reddish brown colour; the 

 flanks and sides of the breast are rather dusky ; irides light 

 red-brown. — Blytli. 



Bill entirely black, stouter and considerably deeper than I 

 have seen in any other Ceylon species ; top of the head, lores, 

 and general upper surface dark greyish brown; beneath whitish, 

 with a pale fulvous tinge ; cheeks, sides of the breast, and 

 flanks dusky. Length, 6 inches ; wing, 2'4 ; tarsus, 1 ; bill at 

 front "5. — Holdsworth. 



