PASSE RES 
to 
with greenish on sides and flanks; under wing coverts greyish with greenish blue tips; quill- 
lining distinctly rufescent-buff. The female differs by having the frontal edge, lores and chin 
whitish, the cheeks, ear coverts and all the lower parts dull smoky brownish, with some 
bluish shade here and there; the upper plumage, too, is of amore greenish blue. Bill coral-red, 
extreme tip dusky, feet blackish; iris dark red. 
Geographical Distribution. Madagascar, Monotypic (one genus with a single species). 
Habits and Nidification. In habits, it is said to resemble our Nuthatches, running up 
and down the trunks of trees in search of food, Its eggs seem to be unknown. 
Observations. The single species constituting this family has been referred by various 
authors, as also formerly by myself, to the Nuthatches (Siftidae). It differs, however, so stri- 
kingly from all members of the latter group that there can. be no question, I think, about its 
being much more properly placed in a separate family, as has been proposed by Mr, Ridgway. 
The differences between the two families may be summarized as follows 1). 
a. Maxilla uncinate at tip, with tomium distinctly notched subterminally, the mandibular 
tomium also notched near tip; hallux (without claw) fully as long as middle toe (without 
claw) ; outer toe very nearly as long as middle toe and united to the latter for the whole 
of the basal and half of its subbasal phalanges ; inner toe only about half as long as outer; 
tail thveefourths asloupas wig. «9% «= «© « = 3 2 = 6 ces aeeeen elpOoiammres 
b. Maxilla not uncinate at tip, mandibular tomium never, maxillary tomium sometimes 
(Neositta) very slightly notched subterminally; hallux (without claw) decidedly shorter 
than middle toe (without claw); outer toe decidedly shorley than middle toe and united to 
the latter fov not more than the basal phalanx ; inner toe three-fourths as long as outer toe; 
taal about hatfas lone asiwing 2 vo) ee eS Homose 
GENUS HYPOSITTA A. NEWTON 
1863. Hypherpes (non Chaudoir 1538, Coleoptera!) A. Newton, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1863, p. 85 
(Spec. Typ. : H. corallirostvis, Newton). 
1881. Hypositta A. Newton, ibidem, 1881, p. 438 (nom. emend. pro Hypherfes). 
1. Hypositta corallirostris (A. Newton). 
Hypherpes corallirostris A. Newton, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond, 1863, p.85, pl. 13 (1863) (Madagascar); descr. et fig. 9. 
Fig. Milne Edwards & Grandidier, Hist. Nat. Madagascar, Vol. 14, pl. 121-121 ¢. 
Hab. Madagascar, 
1) The principal characters have been so clearly pointed out by Mr. Ridgway that I cannot do better than repro- 
duce (with some slight modifications) what he says about this subject in his great work (Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. Wash. 
n° 50, Part 3, 1904, p. 439, footnote c). 
