IS 72. J W. T. Blanford— On Birds from SihMm. 159 



325. ? Ertthrostebna AConisrATTS, Hodgs. 



(Conf. J. A. S. B. 1869, Pt. II, p. 174). 



A specimen from Darjiling which I am disposed to refer to this species 

 has the upper parts olivaceous, whilst on the forehead there is a single "blue 

 feather. Can the male bird be blue ? I have nothing else to add to the 

 suggestion of Mr. Hume that this form may be the female of 32. maculata 

 (J. A. S. B. 1870, Pt. II, p. 116). 



320. SlPHIA LETJCOMELANTJEA, (HodgS.) 



Of two specimens sent by Mr. Mandelli, one has the whole chin, throat 

 and upper breast white, and the lower breast and abdomen sordid brown, 

 the other has only the chin and throat white, and the rest of the lower parts, 

 except the lower tail coverts, isabelline. In both the quills are brown, the 

 primaries and all the secondaries, except the last 4 or 5, with rufescent 

 margins. The female has been described by Dr. Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. 1868, 

 Pt. II, p. 32. 



321. S. superchjakis, (Blyth). 



Of this also two specimens are sent by Mr. Mandelli. The quills are 

 brown with rufous margins, the central rectrices the same colour as the 

 back, lateral rectrices darker, those nearest the centre with narrow faint 

 subobsolete transverse bands, all margined with cyaneous ; extreme base of 

 all rectrices, except the centre pair, white. In one specimen the ferruginous 

 colour of the breast is mixed with olivaceous. Wing 2 "3, tail 1*75, tarsus 0"7, 

 bill 0-32 inch. 



313. Nitzdtjla Hodgsoni, (Moore). 



The only specimen differs somewhat, both in colour and dimensions 

 from Dr. Jerdon's description. The quills are dark brown, not black, the 

 secondaries externally with blue edges, the lores and ear coverts appear to 

 be blue, and the colour below is rich ferruginous, as deep as in Larvivora 

 superciliaris. Wing 1*9, tail 1'25, tarsus 0"63, bill from forehead 0'35, from 

 gape 0'48 inch. 



This bird appears to me rather to consort with the Huticillinoe than with 

 the Muscicapince. Its bill is slightly more depressed than that of Ianthia 

 or Larvivora, and its legs a little shorter, but the difference is very small. 

 The fact is, that the distinction between the two families is rather difficult 

 to determine in these Himalayan forms. The bird was described by Moore 

 as a Nemura (—Ianthia). Mr. Gr. B. Gray, in his very useful Hand-list of 

 genera and species of birds, evidently by oversight, quotes it twice ; as 

 Nemura Hodgsoni (3188) at p. 222, and as Nitidida Hodgson i (1903) at 

 p. 327. 



