€p|mltes iructi, tire ^trtitt^b Stap §M, S2->. Nov, 



Tarsus, slender as in Pennatus. Head and aigrettes, small. Wing, 6'45 inches; 

 general color, uniform, pale earthy brown; each feather with a conspicu- 

 ous, central, very narrow, darh-brotvn shaft stripe. 



This fine new species I owe to the kindness of the Revd. H. 

 Bruce^ and as I have been compelled to disallow the supposed 

 Alcippe Briicei which is nothing" but A. Poiocephala, I think I 

 cannot do better than dedicate to this g-eutleman what I believe 

 to be an unquestionably new species procured by himself. 



E. Brucei differs entirely in appearance from any of the other 

 Indian species. The general color of the whole of the upper 

 surface is a pale earthy brown, and each of the feathers of the 

 forehead and top of the head, back and sides of the neck, back, 

 rump, scapulars, and wing" coverts, breast, abdomen, flanks^ 

 tibial and tarsal plumes, and lower tail coverts has a conspi- 

 cuous central, very narrow dark brown shaft stripe. There are no 

 white spots on any of the feathers ; the tarsi are slender as in the 

 Pennatus group. The head and aigrettes are very small, while 

 the wing is as long as that of the largest Griseus that I have 

 examined. Moreover, it is distinguished from all other Indian 

 Ephialtes by having, like Pennakts, the 3rd quill equal to the 4th. 

 This species, of which only a single specimen has yet been pro- 

 cured and that one near Rahuri, Ahmednuggur, is even to the 

 most casual observer very distinct from any of the other six 

 Indian species noted in my catalogue (see also Rough Notes, Part 

 I, No. 2, page 386 et seq.) In some respects it approaches 

 nearest to Pen?iatus, but the head is proportionally much smaller ; 

 the tone of colouring and the character of the markings are 

 totally unlike those of any stage of that species ; and the length 

 of the bird in the flesh was 9 inches^ while the wing" measured 

 6"4!5 inches. 



Nothing has yet been ascertained as to its habits, nidification, 

 or distribution. 



Dimensions. — Male ; length, 9 inches j expanse, 22 inches ; 

 wing, 6*4 inches; tail, 3" 2 5 inches; tarsus, 1*45 inches; foot 

 greatest length, 1"87 inches ; greatest width, 1*75 inches; mid toe 

 to root of claw, 0"8 inch; its claw straight, 0"39 inch ; hind toe, 

 0-35 inch ; its claw straight, 0-28 inch; inner toe, 0"67 inch; 

 its claw straight, 0*4 inch. Bill straight from forehead to point 

 including cere, which is ill-defined, 0*7 inch ; from gape, 0"73 inch ; 

 height at front, at margin of cere, 0'29 inch ; wings when closed 

 are even with the end of tail. Lower tail coverts reach to 



