POMATORHINUS MONT ANUS. 



Pomatorhinus has no analogy to any other genus of the family of Dentirostres. 

 Although the bill has a small degree of validity, it possesses the essential character 

 of the Tenuirostres, as defined by M. Cuvier. It is long, slender, arched, and 

 entu-e. Agreeably to the comparisons which I have been able to institute, it is most 

 nearly related to that division of the genus Cinnyris, as employed by M. Cuvier, 

 the individuals of which have bills of moderate length. In order to afford the means 

 of comparison, the biU of Pomatorhinus has been accurately represented in the 

 Plate of Illustrations, and I proceed to detail the distinguishing characters in refer- 

 ence to this. The bill is abruptly compressed immediately before the nares, and rises 

 to an elevated rounded culmen or back ; the sides are even and vertical ; both man- 

 dibles are nearly of equal breadth, and the tomia, or cutting edges, are directly opposed 

 to each other : this character is of importance, as, together with the vaUdity of the 

 bill, it affords a clear distinction from Cinnyris, in which the edges of the mandibles 

 are inflected, and the lower mandible is partially received into the upper. The 

 covering of the nares, although it generally resembles that which exists in Cinnyris, 

 is larger and more developed, constituting an arched operculum of an oval form and 

 horny texture, which projects horizontally, and nearly conceals the anterior portion 

 of the nasal aperture, while its outer margin is slightly inflected, and resembles the 

 border of a very minute shell. The aperture itself is directed obliquely towards 

 the forehead. 



As far as regards the affinity of Pomatorhinus, much research is stiU necessary 

 for determining it. The materials which I have been enabled to consult, have exhibited 

 chiefly its relations to Cinnyris; these appear from the preceding details. But its 

 relations to the other genera of this family, and its connexions in a natural series, have 

 not been ascertained satisfactorily. In the systematic catalogue, which contains a 

 concise description of the birds which I collected in Java, the relations of Pomatorhinus 

 to Prinia were pointed out as they exhibit themselves in the validity of the bill, its 

 sudden compression before the nares, and the entireness of the cutting edges. But 

 an interruption in a natural series stiU remains, betw^een Prinia and Pomatorhinus. 



In Pomatorhinus montanus, the upper parts of the body, wings, and tail, as 

 well as the posterior portion of the neck, are brown ; but this colom* differs in its 

 shades and degrees of intensity on different parts. It is chestnut, with a reddish hue, 

 on the neck, back, and scapvilars, while it becomes gradually obscure, and assumes 

 an ohvaceous tint, on the upper parts of the tail and wings. The colour of these 

 parts underneath, as well as the extremity of the quUl-feathers, is dark brown, 

 inclining to black ; but the vivid chestnut tint of the neck and back is diffused over 

 the lateral parts of the breast and abdomen. The head above and at the sides, and 



