leiotrichike. 249 



The Slender-billed Shrike-tit. 



Deser. — Head, neck, and ear-coverts, black, with some white 

 about the nape ; back, rump, and upper tail-coverts, bright rufo- 

 ferruginous (as in Cutia) ; wings and tail black ; the greater wing- 

 coverts broadly tipped, and the tertiaries edged externally at the 

 base with white, and bordered with white round their broad tips ; 

 feathers of the tail white-tipped, especially the outer ones ; throat 

 and breast pure white ; scapulars, flanks, and under tail-coverts, 

 weak ferruginous. 



Bill black, base of lower mandible yellow ; legs pale fleshy 

 brown ; irides brown. Length 1\ inches ; wing 3£ ; tail 3£ ; bill 

 at front f ; tarsus nearly 1 inch. 



I only got a single specimen of this curious bird, when at 

 Darjeeling, and did not myself observe it. Judging from analogy, 

 the female probably differs. I am unable to say anything of its 

 habits, but it was shot at about 5,000 feet of elevation. 



The next group is that to which the name of Leioilirix was 

 given by Swainson. It comprises, however, several distinct forms, 

 which were well distinguished by Hodgson, and classed by him 

 among the Parints : although not adopted by Blyth and Horsfield 

 in their respective Catalogues, they are as well worthy of 

 separation as many other genera universally adopted. As a whole, 

 they may be recognized by a moderately short, more or less conic 

 bill, rather short and rounded firm wings, the first four or five 

 primaries being graduated, and the 5th, 6th, and 7th longest 

 and sub-equal ; the tail is rather short in most, even or slightly 

 forked ; the tarsus rather short, with short, strong, flat toes, the 

 outer toe much svndactyle, and the claws strong and well curved. 



" In all the species of Leiothriv," says Hodgson, " the tongue, 

 without being elongated, is pointed, rather deeply forked, and 

 more or less jagged on the edges, and, in all, the stomach has 

 a good deal of muscular power, being almost mediate between 

 the typical Finches and Tits. In conformity with this struc- 

 ture, the food is Pariano-fringillidan, consisting almost equally 

 of insects, their nests, larvre and pupae, and of seeds. Berries 

 are also frequently taken, but I never found gravel except in the 

 stomach of L. luteus. They creep and climb among the foliage 



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