FAM. PARIDA= 30 
2. Penthornis tessacourbe (Scopoli). 
Muscicapa (Tessacourbe) Scopoli, Delicie Flor. et Faun. Insubr. Vol. 2, p. 95 (1786) (based on « Le Gobe-mouche 
noir de l’isle de Lucon », Sonnerat, Voy. Nouv.-Guinée, p. 59, pl. 27, f. 2 : Luzon, locality most probably 
erroneous). 
Muscicapa luzoniensis Gmelin, Syst. Nat Vol.1, 1. p. 942 (1789) (based on the same). 
Muicropus nehrkornt \V. Blasius, Journ. f. Ornith. Vol 38, p. 147 (1890) (Mindanao). 
Hab. Philippine Island : Mindanao. 
3. GENUS MELANOCHLORA LESSON 
Melanochlora Lesson, Rev. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 42 (1839) (sp. typ. : M. swmatrana Lesson). 
Crataionyx Eyton, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. Vol. 7, 1839, p. 104 (sp. : C. fava Eyton et C. ater Eyton). 
Cratzonyx Agassiz, Nomencl. Zool., Index, p. 103 (1846) (nom. emend. pro Cvataionyx Eyton). 
Ptilobaphus Reichenbach, Avium Syst. pl. 62 (1850). 
Melanichlora A. Dubois, Syn. Avium, Vol. 1, p. 460 (1g0r) (nom. emend. pro Melanochlova Lesson). 
Characters. Bill rather stout, much shorter than head, about equal in length to inner 
toe with claw, with outlines decidedly convex, at base somewhat deeper than wide; culmen 
conspicuously curved; gonys terminally more abruptly ascending than in Parus. Nostrils basal, 
very small, nearly circular, concealed by dense, antrorse latero-frontal plumules. Rictal bristles 
well-developed. Wing long, rounded; fourth, fifth and sixth primaries nearly equal and longest; 
third primary equal to seventh, decidedly shorter than fourth to sixth; second equal to ninth; 
first primary somewhat less than half as long as second; wing-tip about equal to length of 
tarsus. Tail conspicuously shorter than the wing, slightly graduated; rectrices relatively 
narrow, with rather pointed tips. Tarsus robust, much longer than middle toe with claw; 
acrotarsium distinctly scutellate; proportions and adhesion of toes exactly as in Paras, but 
both toes and claws stronger. Feathers of pileum much lengthened, with the barbs dissolved, 
forming a long, full, erect crest. Wing 100-115, tail $5-go, tarsus 21-24, bill about 16 mm. 
Coloration. Sexes different. Forehead, crown, crest and under parts (including under 
tail coverts) bright yellow in both sexes; nape, back, wings, tail, throat and breast deep black, 
glossed with bluish green in the male, olive-brown with a slight greenish sheen in the female. 
The young birds resemble the female, but have a much shorter crest, the upper wing coverts 
tipped with yellow, and the rectrices edged with whitish. 
Observations. Though not unlike Parws in general appearance, the stouter bill, much 
more rounded tail with pointed rectrices, longer tarsus, and the peculiar of the elongated 
crown-feathers render Melanochlora a well-characterized genus among the Paridae. 
Geographical Distribution. India, Burma, Malakka, Sumatra, Monotypic. 
Habits and Nidification. We are told by Indian field-ornithologists that this bird 
frequents the larger trees in small flocks. Nothing appears to be known regarding its nidification. 
KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES OF MELANOCHLORA SULTANEA 
L. Lajger s wineiop male DLO-Ero mi. = 2 ee ee | MO SUETANEASULTANEA: 
— Smaller: wing ofmale 1oo-ro7 mm. . . . . . . =. . =. . . 2. M. SULTANEA FLAVOCRISTATA. 
