16 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



hcd^e-row, pour forth a remarkably sweet song. It feeds mostly 

 on insects, often on ants and small coleoptcra. Mr. 151 yth remarks, 

 that he possessed some of these birds alive, and noticed that they 

 frequently placed one foot upon their food, while they pecked with 

 the bill. Mr. Philipps states that, in the N. \V. Provinces, this is 

 the bird said by the natives " to support the heavens by its legs, 

 lest they fall." In Southern India this is related of the common 

 Plover, Plurianus Goernsis. The same observer also says, that it 

 generally builds on Banyan trees. I wish that he had described 

 the eggs, which I have never been able to procure. 



386. Pictorhis longirostris, Hodgson. 

 P. Z. S., 1854— Horsf., Cat. 6G9. 



The larger Yellow-eyed Babbler. 



Descr. — Above, rufous-brown, darkest on the crown, wings and 

 tail, the last distinctly rayed ; chin, throat, the middle of the belly, 

 and vent, white; ear-coverts, sides of neck, and lfreast, pale rufes- 

 cent, brightening on the flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts. 



Bill black, yellowish at the base beneath ; legs pale horny. 

 Length 8^ inches; wing 2f ; tail 3^; bill at front § ; tarsus 1. 



This bird has been only recently described from specimens sent 

 home from Nepal by Hodgson. It is probably the species noticed 

 by Mr. Frith (J. A. S., XIII., 370), as being found in Bengal, 

 which he states to differ from the common species, in being about 

 half larger. 



I discovered a third species of this genus at Thayet-myo in 

 Upper Burmah, which I have described in the 4th vol. of the 

 'Ibis,' as Clirysomma altirostre. Its short deep bill approximates 

 it to the Paradoxornis series. 



Gen. Trichastoma, Blyth. 



Syn. Malacodncla, Blyth. 



Char. — Bill about equal to the head, straight, stout, hiirh, 

 much compressed ; the tip hooked ; nostrils large ; wings moderate, 

 4th quill longest ; tail somewhat short, weak, nearly even ; tarsus 

 moderate ; feet large, the lateral toes slightly unequal ; claws 

 moderately curved, the middle and hind claw very long. 



