770 Additions to the Ornithology of Ntpal. [Dec. 



the form and profile especially is so peculiar, that a glance at the 

 sketch will, by comparison with that of the existing elephant also 

 given, be sufficiently striking. 



The suborbitary foramen is by no means large ; the proportion of 

 diploe in the upper part of the cranium bears no comparison with 

 that in the existing elephant, these differences combined with the 

 peculiarity of form and position of the external nasal aperture, may, 

 in all probability, modify the extent to which this variety of Mastodon 

 was provided with trunk ; but to forbear from surmises or specula- 

 tions in the present imperfect state of the inquiry, it will be sufficient 

 to place this as a second to the angustidens formerly noted. 



P. S. — A letter this moment received from Captain Cautley an- 

 nounces the discovery of a superb specimen of the Mastodon angusti- 

 dens, a skull with both lines of molars, palate, and one orbit entire : 

 he adds — " We have much still to learn of these Mastodons ; with 

 regard to the Mastodon elephantoides of Clift, there are evidently two 

 species, of the same character as to dentition, but with a remarkable 

 difference in the form of cranium, one of which has the fiat and the 

 other the elevated crown." A very perfect head of a horse has also 

 just been extracted by the Sewalik working parties, from the hard 

 sandstone. — Ed. 



III. — Additions to the Ornithology of Nfyal. By B. H. Hodgson, Esq. 

 1 . Indication of a neiv Genus of Insessorial Birds. 



Conirostres, Sturnidce, Lamprotornince ? Dentirostres, Merulidce, 

 Crateropodince ? 



In the suite of specimens of Nipalese birds forwarded by me, three 

 years ago, to the Zoological Society of London, were three or four of 

 the subject of the present article. They were marked in the imper- 

 fect list obligingly returned to me as " a new form nearly allied to 

 Pastor." But, if Pastor roseus be the type of that genus, I confess 

 I cannot perceive much affinity with our bird, either in structure or 

 in manners. And, if a strong, arched, solid and compressed bill, 

 united with gradated wings, and very strong feet, be the marks of 

 the Crateropodince, to that sub -family, I conceive that our bird should 

 be referred ; the more especially as its shy and retiring habits are 

 alien to those of the whole Corvida, and in a yet more particular 

 manner, to those of the Sturnine branch of it. The Indian Stares 

 seem to have perplexed systematists most wofully, though, I fancy, 

 there is not one of us exiles ' in the land of the sun,' but readily 



