NOTi:S ON INDIAN TIMELIIDES AND THEIR ALLIES. 55 



and not very graduated ; a short rounded wing, the first four primaries 

 graduated, the fifth, sixth and seventh equal and longest ; nostrils completely 

 hidden by numerous soft feathers (not stift' bristles) ; bill stout and fairly 

 long, and not short and greatly curved like the other genera of this order ; 

 rictal bristles well developed ; no hairs overhanging the nostrils ; legs and 

 feet stout, hind claw long and thick. 



CONOSTOMA iEMODIUM, HodgSOn. 



The Red-billed Jay-Thrush, 



Hodgson, J. A. S. B., x., p. 867 (1841) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vii, p. 485 ; 



Gates, F. B. 1., i., p. 61. 

 Description as in Gates, F. B. I. 



Distribution. — Nepal, Sikhim, Tibet and W. China, only found at very 

 high altitudes. 



Paradoxobnis, Gould, 1836. 



Characteristics : a short rounded wing, the first four primaries graduated, 

 the fifth and sixth equal and longest ; tail slightly longer than the wing and 

 greatly graduated ; legs and feet very strong, the hind claw also stout and 

 long ; nostrils completely hidden by feathers ; rictal bristles well developed ; 

 bill short, stout, greatly curved, deeper at the base than length from gape. 

 The lower edge of upper mandible greatly curved downwards at the base 

 (parrot-like) ; the eggs of this genus are spotted. 



Faradoxornis have wonderful curved edges to their bills, evidently intend- 

 ed for cutting purposes, and remind one rather of "' Garden " or " rose " 

 scissors, in which the two blades are curved to fit each other. 



* Pakadoxoknis flavikostris, Gould. 



GouWs Parrot-billed Babbler. 



Gould, P. Z. S., 1836, p. 17 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M., vii., p. 496 ; Gates, F. 



B. I., i., p. 62 ; Baker, J. B. N. H. S. viii., p. 167. 

 Description as in F. B. I. 



Distribution. — Terai of E. Himalayas, Nepal to Assam, Sylhet, Cachar and 

 Khasia Hills. 



Nesting. — See Ibis, Jan. 1895, p, 42. 



Paradoxornis guxtaticollis, David. 



Austen^s Parrot-billed Babbler. 



David, N. Arch. Mus., vii.. Bull. p. 14. (1871) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M., vii., p. 

 497 ; Gates, F. B. I., i., p. 63 ; Baker, Ibis 1906, p. 87, J. B. N. H. 

 S., xiii, p. 400 ; Harington, J. B. N. H. S., xiv, p. 696. 



Description as in Gates, F. B. 1. 



Distribution. — Assam, Khasia and Naga Hills, Bhamo and Shan States, 

 W. and S. China. 



" The nests are deep cups, measuring about 3^ inches in depth and the 

 same in diameter. They are very typical of the sub-family, being made 

 almost entirely of the bright yellow bark of a kind of grass, lined with 

 yellowish strips of grasses and bamboo leaves, so that, as a whole, they 

 appear bright yellow. The nests are placed from 3 to 4 feet above the 

 ground in a clump of bamboos, straggling shrub or a tall stout weed. The 

 eggs two or three in number. The shell is extremely fragile, and have the 

 ground colour, a whitish to greenish-grey, with faint blotches and spots of 

 brownish^ and measure '93" x "63" " (Baker). 



* Paeadoxoenis hetjdii, David, 1873. 



Sharpe, Cat. B. M., vii., p. 497. 

 Hab. — Nankin, China. 



