1841.] Glaucopince, or Rasorial Crows, 857 



and its natural position would seem to be between Glaucopis and Cypsiri- 

 nae. In manners the present species is a shy forester, adhering to the wilds, 

 and tenanting the skirts of forests, where brush-wood as well as trees 

 abound. Five or six birds are usually found together, chattering, hop- 

 ping, and scraping on the ground, and resorting to the trees and shrubs 

 chiefly for shelter. Their food is principally insects of the soft and imper- 

 fect kind in summer: but in winter they doubtless take some vegetable 

 food. Their essential form may be characterised thus : — 



Bill short, strong, conico-compressed, with broad rounded ridges and 

 vertical sides ; the culmen and commissure entirely arched, the tips equal, 

 obtuse, and entire. Nostrils circular, unfossed, furnished with a membran- 

 ous raised edge all round, and concealed by incumbent setaceous 

 plumuli. Rictus provided with a close series of short bristles. Wings 

 short, feeble, almost entirely rounded, the 6th, 7th, and 8th quills usually 

 equal and longest. Tail slightly elongated, rounded, consisting of 12 

 broad simple plumes. Feet very large and strong, yet not typically 

 ambulatory. Tarsi elevate, nearly or quite smooth, exceeding much the 

 central toe and nail. Toes medial, unequal; fores basally connected, 

 and outer lateral considerably longer than the inner. Hind toe large, 

 depressed, exceeding the outer fore, and with its large nail reaching to 

 the middle of the central toe and nail. Nails simple, large, scarcely so 

 acute or so curved as in Crypsirinae. 



Habitat, the northern region close to the perpetual snows. 



Type. Conostama CEraodius, Nob. new. 



Specific character. 



Conostoma with head, neck, and body above dull olive brown, clear- 

 est on the secondary alars — below, paler, and passing into sordid slaty 

 blue, which forms, everywhere, the interior colour of the plumage. Iris 

 brownish. Bill dull orange. Legs slaty grey. Sexes alike. Bill to tail 

 11 J inches : bill i: tail 4i : tarsus lU. Central toe and nail 1 1 Hind toe 



16 lo 



and nail l^^. Weight 3| oz. 

 Catmandoo, August, 1841. 



