856 



Notice of a new form of the Glaucopinee, or Rasorial Crows, inhabiting the Nor- 

 thern region of Nepal — Conostoma JEmodius, (Nobis type.) By B. H. 

 Hodgson, Esq. Resident at the Court of Nepal. 



Amongst the very numerous forms* presented by the 850 species of 

 Birds already known to me as inhabitants of Nepal, there is one which 

 I believe to be still new to science, and to belong to a group, of the oc- 

 currence of which, either in these mountains or in the plains at their 

 base, I know of no other instance, save that of the ubiquitous tree 

 Magpies. 



The group alluded to, is the Glaucopin, or Finch-billed Crows of Swain- 

 son ; and the single species I am acquainted with, tenants exclusively 

 the immediate neighbourhood of the perpetual snows. 



In the lower and central regions, our bird appears to be represented 

 by the Timaliae and Crateropi, to both of which, and especially to the 

 former, it bears in much of its structure, the same close resemblance that it 

 does also in its manners ; for all these birds alike have lax feeble plumage, 

 short rounded wings, longish, broad, frail subgradated tails, and very 

 large, yet not typically, terrestrial feet, though the habits are essentially 

 terrene and rasorial. But, whereas the Timaliae and Crateropi have a 

 more or less Meruline bill, slender, and provided with membraned and 

 open nares. The present birds, which we shall denominate generically 

 Conostoma, (Kiifvoq et orofxa^) have the massive bill and simple concealed 

 nares of the Magpies. The bill of the Crypsirinae vel Dendrocittse, or 

 tree Magpies in particular, has much resemblance to that of the Conostomse, 

 owing to the clear arcuation of its whole commissure, and to the perfect 

 entireness of its tip. There are differences, however, between the two 

 even in the bills, in as much as that of Conostoma is more compressed 

 with sides less tumid yet broader ridges ; while in Crypsirinse, the other 

 members, such as the long gradated tail, short tarsi, and considerably 

 pointed wings, indicate habits less terrestrial than those of our bird. 

 Conostoma is clearly a typical example of the Glaucopinae of Swainson, 



* One of the most remarkable of these is the Cochoa of Nepal, and which was charac* 

 terised by me under that name in the Journal for June 1836. The expert naturalist 

 would immediately perceive what my inexperience then noted not, viz. that this is a 

 typical ampeline form, requiring to be placed between Ampelis and Casmarynchus, 

 though Swainson asserts that the group is exclusively American. 



To this genus we have since given the classic name of Prosorinia. In the same 

 number of the Journal is the description of yet another rarity, first discovered and 

 described therein, and which Swainson has since called Nyctiornis. It is our Bucia' 

 hodie, Napophilus, a forest-haunting Bee-Eater. Mr. Swainson' s name must merge 

 in ours. 



