460 NOTES, 



" Sub-genus, Timalia. 4th species, new ; nipalensis, nobis. 

 Nipalese Timalia, nobis. 



Form. — Bill assimilating closely with the last-named species 

 (Pomatorhinus ruficollis), but stronger and straighter ; equal 

 merely to the head in length, subarcuated only, but distinctly 

 so, and perfectly entire. Culmen rather more carinated 

 between the nares, the tect of which is less hard and less arched 

 than in the typical Pomatorhini. Rictus more strongly bristled* 

 Shafts of the head and neck-plumes spinous, as in Cinclosoma 

 setafer (nobis.) Legs stronger, with more distinct scales ; 

 another approximation to Cinclosoma. Tail equal to the wholo 

 body and bill, consisting of 12 broad and straight, but fray- 

 ed feathers, the extreme laterals of which are gradated by 

 half the entire length of the tail, or doubly as much as in the 

 foregone species. 



Colour and size. — Above, with the flanks, thighs and under tail- 

 coverts brown, paler and more olive beneath than superiorly ; 

 below from chin to breast rufescent, from breast to vent 

 albescent, and both shaded with a tinge of the colour above ; 

 entire cheeks pure white ; iris hoary blue ; bill and legs dull dark 

 plumbeous ; the whole plumage black shafted ; the outer vanes 

 of the prime quills paled ; sexes alike. Size 10 inches by 

 10, and 2 25 oz. ; bill, 1 ; tail, 5 ; tarsus, 1*44 ; central toe, 0'93 ; 

 hind, 0"5b\ 



5th species ; pellotis, brown ear, nobis. 



Characters. — Extremely similar to those of the last, but re- 

 turning towards the typical Pomatorhini by its shorter and 

 rayed tail. 



Colour and size. — Above, dull olive green, inclining towards 

 brown ; thighs, vent and under tail-coverts the same, but paler ; 

 cheeks concolorous with the body ; ear-coverts darker and 

 brown ; below white, tinted with rufous towards the head, and 

 shaded with the colour of the thighs and vent towards them ; 

 bill above and towards the tip blackish ; below pure plumb- 

 eous ; legs pure plumbeous grey ; iris hoary ; whole plumage 

 black shafted as in the last, and similarly spinous ; tail closely 

 rayed across. Size of the last, but not measuring so much in 

 length, owing to the shorter tail, 9 inches by 10, and 2'25 oz ; 

 bill, 1*12 ; tarsus, 137 ; central toe, 0*87 ; hind toe, 0'5 ; tail, 4 ; 

 sexes alike. 



Now even these descriptions make it very clear that the birds 

 are distinct, but the carefully finished pictures of both amongst 

 Mr. Hodgson's drawings make this still more apparent. 



Acanthoptila nipalensis is something like a gigantic edition 

 of Laticilla burnesi, with a comparatively slender bill ; in some 

 respects recalling Pectoris longiroslris, with a very long, loose, 



