66 PASSERES 
rounded; fourth to seventh primaries longest; third primary conspicuously shorter, about 
equal to eighth or ninth, second equal to secondaries; first primary well-developed, much 
more than half as long as second. Tail very variable as to relative length, either longer or 
shorter than the wing, rounded or graduated. Tarsus strong, much more than twice as long as 
middle toe (without claw); acrotarsium scutellate, the scutes rarely fused into a single lamina; 
middle toe longest, outer toe slightly longer than inner one; basal phalanx of middle toe united to 
inner toe for entire length, to outer toe for about half its length; hallux about equal to inner toe, 
but much stouter, its claw much shorter than the digit, more strongly arched than claws of 
anterior toes. Plumage remarkably soft and copious. Sexes alike, young very little different 
from adults, not spotted nor streaked. 
Geographical Distribution, Southern and Eastern Asia, Mostly Indo-Malayan, but a 
few species extend their range into the Palzearctic Region. Six genera with about thirty-five 
species and subspecies. 
Habits. The Crow-Tits are reported to resemble the Titmice in habits and food. 
About their nidification very little is yet known, The few species whose breeding-habits have 
been described build an open, cup-shaped nest of dry stems of grasses, branches, bamboo- 
leaves etc. in bushes or trees, and lay three eggs which are either uniform blue or spotted and 
blotched with brownish and grey on a white ground colour. 
Bibliography. Oates, Fauna Brit. India, Birds, Vol. 1, 1889, pp. 60 ff. 
KEY TO THE GENERA OF PARADOXORNITHINA= 
1. Outer toe abortive, reduced to a short, clawless stump . . . . . . . . 16. Genus CHOLORNIS. 
— Outer toe noymal . 
be 
2. Lail decidedly longer than the wing sn 
— Tail decidedly shorter than the wing Be 
3. Tail slightly graduated, the outermost tail-feather being about 10 mm. shorter 
than the longest. Bull longer, less convex, gonys but slightly ascending. 
Larger: wing 120mm. andmore. . . . . . =. . . =. ~~. . ~ 20. Genus Conostona. 
— Tail much graduated, the outermost tail feather being half as long as the central 
(longest) one. Bull shorter, more elevated Smaller : wing never exceeding 
TOO MID So st se eb oy Ek Gop a Ge pe es Soe SE a RT 
4. Bill deeper than long. Cutting edge of upper mandible with a strong sigmoid 
LT aie ap Meet’ Ry cao Sor «Gt feo es) es ey ee Mon Genus PARADGXORNISs 
— Bill not deeper than long. Cutting edge of upper mandible without or with merely 
Slight indication of sigmoid curve. 2. 2. ww Cw Ct CeCe Ct CSC SCO. GEMS SUTHORA: 
5. Larger : wing more than 80 mm, Culmen strongly convex, somewhat elevated, 
slightly rounded above; mandible with terminal half of gonys slightly as- 
Etnding i mg ate ee ee GenluSEeSiinampARtics 
— Smalley : wing not more than 55 mm. Culmen much less convex, with the meso- 
vhinium much broadened and flattened; mandible swollen, with basal half of 
gonys nearly straight, its terminal half abruptly turned upward, almost in a 
vertical ane = 9% oy ae 8 a Be PO GenTISENIEOSUmHORAS 
