240 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



the central feathers edged pale brown ; the outermost white for 

 about a third, the next with a small terminal white tip, and usually 

 the antepultimate also with a slight white tip ; supercilium, and 

 entire lower parts, dull earthy albescent, the feathers all black 

 shafted, forming very faint dark lines. 



Bill dusky above, yellowish beneath ; legs pale cinereous ; irides 

 brown. Length not quite 7 inches ; wing 3 ; tail 2£ ; bill at front 

 ^ ; tarsus § ; hind toe and claw nearly f . 



This bird is, says Mr. Hodgson, " exclusively monticolous, being 

 found in the uplands of the central region of Nepal ; feeds on 

 grylli, other insects and seeds ; its nest is made loosely of grass, 

 and the eggs bluish, thickly spotted." It appears to occur 

 throughout the Himalayas, apparently taking the place there of 

 Pipastes montanus of the Neilgherries. Adams records that it is 

 common on the grassy hill sides of the lesser ranges southwards of 

 the valley of Cashmere. 



The genera Seiurus and Atuscisaxicola of America are by some 

 placed among the Wagtails, though they differ structurally by 

 their more rounded wing. There are however one or two un- 

 doubted species of Anthus (or Corydalla) in North America ; 

 and several from South America. 



Fam. Ampelid^e. 



Syn. PipridcB, Vigors and Horsfield. 



Tarsus short or moderate; feet fitted for perching, in some 

 groups strong and scansorial ; wings moderate ; tail short or 

 moderate ; bill various, usually strong, somewhat conic ; often of 

 bright, showy, and variegated plumage. 



In this, the last dentirostral family, we have an assemblage of 

 birds considerably varied in their structure and coloration ; 

 but, as a general rule, of brighter and richer plumage than the 

 majority of dentirostral birds ; the Pitta and short-legged Thrushes 

 alone approach them in this respect, and some of these latter are 

 very similarly colored. 



The majority of this family appear to be peculiar to America, 

 but, in the Old World, there are several representatives, one group, 

 the Parinee, or Titmice, being found throughout the Old Continent 

 and North America. Some of them are strictly fruit-eaters, 



