TIMALIA PILEATA. 



A pecviliar character is exhibited in both species of Timalia, by the structure of 

 the plumes which cover the back and the upper parts of the neck, as well as the 

 breast, beUy, vent, and thighs. The separate filaments (radii, agreeably to Illiger)j 

 which constitute the vanes or webs of these plumes, are not in close contact, as is 

 generally the case, but being inserted into the shaft, at a small distance from each 

 other, they diverge with perfect regularity. The parts which they cover are 

 accordingly marked with delicate parallel lines, and wherever several plumes lie 

 over each other, they form a beautiful reticulation. On the posterior part of the 

 abdomen, the vent, and the thighs, the plumes have a similar structure ; but the 

 filaments are greatly elongated and pendulous, so as to envelope these parts with 

 a lax plumose covering, which on near inspection appears covered with dehcate 

 hairs. This appearance is produced by a series of very minute parallel vilh, on each 

 of the separate filaments, arranged with great regularity and beauty. Plumes, 

 in which this structure can be discerned with the naked eye, are named decom- 

 pound by Illiger, and described as those whose radii are pinnated with smaller lateral 

 radii ; and the effect which the arrangement of these decompovmd plumes has in the 

 appearance of the bird, is exhibited with accuracy both in the figure of Timalia 

 pileata and of Timalia gularis. These two species further agree in external character 

 in the lines which mark the throat, and in the darkness of the vipper parts of the head, 

 modified, however, in such a manner, as to afford a distinguishing character to each. 



Entire length of the Timalia pileata, six inches and three-fourths. Body, ovate, 

 rather stout. General colovir, above brown, with an olivaceous tint ; underneath, 

 testaceous, inclining to gray. Head capped with saturated chesnut. Throat and 

 cheeks white. Breast white, inclining to gray, marked with intensely black stripes 

 by the shafts of the plumes. A narrow white band commences at the forehead, near 

 the base of the bill, passes backward, encircles the eye, and unites with the white 

 plumes of the cheeks. Axillge, white ; which colour also shews itself in a narrow 

 border of the wing. Quills and tail feathers of a more pure brown colour than the 

 other parts : very narrow transverse undulations, of a darker colour, may be observed 

 on the tail feathers by a close examination. Plumes of the hypochondriee, thighs, 

 and vent, long, pendulous, decompound, and villose. The lesser wing coverts, as 

 well as the plumes which cover the nape and back, are grayish-blue at the base ; 

 which colour shews itself on the separate filaments or radii, if the plumes are acci- 

 dentally deranged. Tail, underneath, brown, with a hoary tint. Bill black and 

 shining. Feet brown. 



The Timalia pileata is not unfi:equent in the groves and small woods which 

 abound in every part of Java. It often approaches the villages and plantations, and 



