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■ SUTHORA NIPALENSIS, Hodgs. 



White-faced Suthora. 



Suthora Nipalensis, Hodgs. Ind. Rev. 1838, p. 32.-Blyth, Cat. of Birds Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 102. 



Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 334. 

 Temnornis Nipalensis, Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xiii. pi. in p. 450. 

 atrifrons, Hodgs. Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1845, p. 31. 



Mr. Hodgson described and made known to science the present pretty species, in the " Indian Review " 

 for 1838, under the name of Suthora Nipalensis ; subsequently, if I mistake not, this gentleman applied 

 the name of Temnornis atrifrons to the same bird. In the British Museum collection there are several 

 specimens, which precisely accord with each other, except in the colouring of the head and cheeks, some 

 having those parts blue-grey, while in others the prevailing tint is nearly red ; and until positive evidence 

 to the contrary has been obtained, I cannot but consider these two birds as one and the same species ; yet 

 I am at a loss to know why these varieties have not been noticed by such an observant naturalist as 

 Mr. Hodgson, who distinctly states the crown of the head to be blue-grey, like that of the upper bird in the 

 accompanying Plate. If these birds should prove to be identical, of which I have but little doubt, it will be 

 interesting to know if the variation in colour is due to age or sex, a fact which can only be satisfactorily 

 determined in the native country of the species. 



In the short note accompanying his description Mr. Hodgson says, " This bird is a native of the central 

 and northern regions of Nepaul," and adds, " that it is observed in the Cachar in small flocks, frequenting 

 brushwood and tall grass ; habits, manners and food of Parus, of which it has the entire aspect ; but besides 

 its truncated bill it differs in its rounder wings, and in its larger and less arboreal legs and feet." 



Crown of the head and back of the neck brownish grey ; cheeks pure grey ; face and superciliary 

 stripes white, bounded above by a broad black line ; chin transversely barred with black and rusty red ; 

 upper and under surface rusty red, fading into white on the centre of the abdomen ; wings dark brown, 

 the first two or three quills edged with white, the next two or three edged at the base with rufous, and 

 the remainder edged throughout their entire length with the same colour, but a deeper hue ; tail dark 

 brown, edged externally with rufous ; bill black at the tip and bluish at the base ; legs fleshy white ; iris 

 dark brown. 



In some specimens the crown of the head and cheeks are rufous ; in other respects the colouring is the 

 same. 



The figures are of the natural size, on the Pinus brunoniana. 





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