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2. DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW SPECIES OF TITMICE. 
By Freperic Moore. 
Fam. Piprip#, Vigors. 
Subfam. Parrana. 
Genus Orites, Mcehring. 
1. Orires? LEvcoGENys, Moore. 
Colour above grey, tinged with pinkish on the rump : before the eye 
and a broad streak over it black, passing to mixed black and grey 
on the nape; the centre of the head dusky reddish-isabelline ; base 
of lower mandible, below the eyes, ear-coverts and sides of the neck 
white; chin and throat jet-black ; abdomen pale pinkish-isabelline ; 
wings dusky and having an isabelline tinge, the winglet and coverts 
of the primaries black; the primaries and secondaries fringed 
externally with grey ; axillze white ; tail dusky, tinged with isabelline, 
the outer feathers graduated and obliquely tipped externally with 
white, the centre feathers margined with grey. Bill black; feet 
yellowish-brown. 
Length 41 inches; of wing 24th; of tail 2}; the three outer 
feathers graduated, the middle pair 2,ths shorter than the next; 
bill to frontal plumes ;2,ths; to gape ;5,ths; height from chin to 
front ;2,ths; and tarse ;’ths of an inch. 
Hab. Afghanistan. In the Museum of the East India Company. 
«Found in pairs, in the woods above Balu Chughur, at 4,000 feet 
elevation. Irides straw-colour.” Griffith, MSS. Notes. 
This species is allied in colour to O. jouschistos, Hodgson, from 
which it may at once be distinguished by its broad, thick and higher 
bill, by its white cheeks and ear-coverts, and by its black chin and 
throat ; and from O. erythrocephalus, Vigors, by its larger size, by 
the absence of the white superciliary streak, white chin, black ear- 
coverts, &c. On the habits of the latter species I beg to quote the 
following remarks made by Capt. Hutton, in ‘Journ. A. 8. Bengal,’ 
1848, p. 689. He says, ‘It is common at Mussooree, and in the 
hills generally throughout the year. It breeds in April and May ; 
the situation chosen is various, as one taken in the former month at 
Mussooree at 7,000 feet elevation, was placed on the side of a bank 
among overhanging coarse grass; while another taken in the latter 
month at 5,000 feet, was built among some ivy turning round a tree, 
and at least 14 feet from the ground. The nest is in shape a round 
ball with a small lateral entrance, and is composed of green mosses 
warmly lined with feathers. The eggs are five in number, white’ 
with a pinkish tinge, and sparingly sprinkled with lilac spots or 
specks, and having a well-defined lilac ring at the larger end. Dia- 
meter 58; X 35; in.” 
