PANE SI il DAs 13 
tip conspicuously, though slightly inclined downwards ; gonys terminally more strongly ascend- 
ing. Rictal bristles obsolete. Nostrils large, oval, almost entirely exposed, there being but a 
few, rather elongated bristles reaching to anterior end of nasal fossa. Wing long, rather pointed ; 
third, fourth and fifth primaries nearly equal and longest; second falling between sixth and 
seventh ; first primary very small, less than one-third of second, but conspicuously longer than 
primary coverts. Tail short, little more than half as long as wing, slightly rounded; the rectrices 
broad, with rounded tip. Tarsus about equal to, or slightly shorter than, middle toe without 
claw ; acrotarsium distinctly scutellate; proportions of toes exactly as in Sitta. Legs and feet 
much more slender and gracile than in the last-named genus. Size variable, length of wing 
varying trom about 70 to 100, that of tail from about 36 to 60 mm. 
Coloration. — Sexes alike or very little different. Upper parts with more or less bright 
blue colours; either pileum and back etc. uniform azure blue (Callisitta frontalis), with forehead 
and lores only velvety black; cheeks and ear coverts vinous brownish; or top and sides of head 
as well as nape black (C. azwrea); or head above and mantle black, spotted and streaked with 
light blue, and rump uniform nile-blue (C. formosa). Under parts either ochraceous (C. formosa) 
or vinaceous buff, more or less shaded with lilac; in one species, C. azwrea, belly black. Rectrices 
partly black with greyish or whitish tips. Bill greenish or red in life, with extreme tip of upper 
mandible black, in C. formosa uniform dark horn-colour. 
Geographical Distribution. — Indo-Malayan Region. Nine species and subspecies. 
Habits and Nidification apparently not different from S/féa. 
OBSERVATIONS. — The above generic characters have been taken from C. frontalis and 
C. azurea, which may or may not be congeneric with C. formosa, the type of the genus, It is 
possible that the latter be nearer to Siffa; in this case a new generic name would have to 
be created for the species nos. 2-9, which are easily distinguished from true Sitta by several 
striking structural characters. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF CALLISITTA 
1. Larger, wing about roo, tail about 60 mm. Head above and mantle black with 
spols and streaks of azuve and pale blue; rump and shoulders light nile- 
blue. Chin and throat whitish, remainder of under parts deep ochraceous, 
(LUE OR: CRUG WON COOH 9 8 ek le Ch HORINOSA, 
— Smaller, wing not exceeding 50, tail not move than gomm. Back azure oy 
~ violaceous blue, its upper portion sometimes varied with black . : 
. Head above, nape and sides of head black, chin, throat and breast pale buff, 
belly black. . . . Bi Bp ty hy Nt) ge, as 2 Co AZUL 
bo 
No 
— Head above blue like the back; no black whatever on undey parts. Males 
nith a broad black superciliary stripe, absent in females 
3. Bill ved in life, yellow in skins. Loves entirely black 
— Bill greenish. Loves with a distinct white spot 
4. Legsand feetved . . . en en nS) | CARR ONTATTS CORAIELE ES. 
aI > WH 
— Legs and feet dark brown or Diaby olive . 
