

IXULUS OCCIPITALIS, Biyth. 



Thick-billed Ixulus. 



Siva occipitalis, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xiii. p. 937. 



Ixulus occipitalis, Blyth, Jourri. Asiat. Soc, Beng., vol. xiv. p. 552, and xvi. p. 448. — Id. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 

 vol. xx. p. 318. — Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 100.— Moore, Proc. of Zool. Soc, 

 part xxii. p. 141. — Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 411. 



The present bird, which is extremely rare in our collections, is an inhabitant of Nepaul and Sikim. It is a 

 stouter bird than the Ixulus JlamcolUs, and has a much thicker bill ; but in its general style of colouring it 

 bears a very great resemblance to that bird. The red band at the nape of the neck, common to both species, 

 serves to indicate their alliance as members of the same genus. Of the habits, manners, and economy of this 

 species nothing whatever has yet been recorded ; and it is to be hoped that Mr. Jerdon, or some other zoolo- 

 gist resident in India, will not fail to investigate the subject, and make us acquainted with them. In all 

 probability, the sexes are alike. 



Crown and nape ferruginous brown ; coronal feathers considerably elongated, and the occiput beneath 

 the crest pure white ; upper surface olive-brown ; the feathers of the back and scapularies pale-buffy white ; 

 wings and tail dark olive-brown, the primaries edged with pale olive ; ear-coverts reddish, with greyish-white 

 shafts, the latter slightly spreading on the webs ; under surface reddish buff, faintly streaked with a darker 

 hue on the chest ; bill blackish brown, lighter at the base ; legs brownish olive, according to Mr. Hodgson's 

 drawing in the British Museum. 



The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Rubus Uflorus. 





