120 birds of india. 



The Long-winged Blue chat. 



Descr. — Whole head and body glistening externally with brilliant 

 dark smalt-blue, but the feathers black internally ; wings and tail 

 black. The female is sordid slaty, or blue-black, with a brown 

 smear ; alars and caudals darker, and a white bar through the 

 wing ; the feathers of the lower parts striped down the shafts 

 with luteous white. 



Bill and feet jet black ; irides dark brown. Length of male 

 9 inches; wing 6; tail 3| ; bill at front T 9 ^ ; tarsus Ig-. The 

 female is considerably smaller than the male. 



This magnificent bird inhabits the Northern region of Nepal, or 

 the Cachar, in under spots near the snows. It is stated by 

 Hodgson to be solitary in its habits, and that insects and gravel 

 were found in its stomach. It has also been found in the North- 

 west Himalayas, near the snowy region, and Mr. Blyth was in- 

 formed by Lieutenant Speke, that he observed it in flocks, with a 

 rapid flight like that of the Starlings. 



The next group, from its slender, and slightly curved beak, was 

 formerly classed under the heterogeneous Ixos of Temminck ; but 

 its place in this family is now universally conceded. 



Gen. Thamnobia, Swainson. 



Char. — Bill slender, very slightly widened at the base, the 

 sides compressed, slightly arched throughout ; tip deflected, not 

 notched ; gape smooth ; wings short, rounded, the 4th and 

 5th quills longest, the primaries hardly exceeding the terti- 

 aries and secondaries, which are broad ; tail moderate, broad, 

 much rounded ; tarsus long, the feet moderate, inner toe much 

 shorter than the outer ; hind toe short, all the claws slightly curved. 



I have no doubt myself of the propriety of placing this genus 

 among the Stone-chats or Robins. Blyth, at one time, from 

 observation of a caged specimen, held that it was a Wren. Swain- 

 son was the first naturalist who, from specimens alone, with great 

 acumen fixed its true position ; which subsequent observations 

 of its habits have certainly confirmed. The Telingas, it will 

 be observed, call both Copsychus and Thamnobia by the same 

 name, with a specific prefix. There are two species known in 

 India, one from the south, the other from the north. 



