1846.] or Little Known Species of Birds. 289 



and a Himalayan Nuthatch is equally approximate (S. cinnamoventris, 

 nobis, considered to be probably the S. himalayana, J. & S., in XIV, 

 579), this having merely the deep russet of the flanks spread over the 

 whole under-parts of the male, and similarly diffused but much paler 

 in the female, — the chin and sides of the throat below the ear-coverts 

 being alone white, except the white variegation of the lower tail-coverts 

 in which it resembles the two allied European species under consider- 

 ation ; another very slight distinction of this Himalayan Nuthatch 

 appears also to be constant, namely that the outermost tail-feather has 

 either no white, or the merest trace of white, on its exterior web : but 

 its affinity with the two western European species is so close, that if the 

 latter are held to be varieties of the same, so also must the Himalayan 

 bird, notwithstanding that its deep ferruginous hue is as much developed 

 as in S. castaneoventris, though still not so dark as in that smaller and 

 slender-billed species of the hilly parts of India generally. Referring 

 to the notice of S. europcea in the Diet. Class., I observe that the British 

 Nuthatch is there described, and hence infer that it is the species inha- 

 biting France ; the Scandinavian bird being probably confined to the north 

 of Europe : and presuming that the latter is true 5. europcea, Lin., I pro- 

 pose for the British species the name Sitta ajftnis* 



Passing now to groups which have not yet fallen under review, I shall 

 commence with that which should have received the name 



Muscicapida. The Flycatchers (Muscicapida of authors) are an as- 

 semblage from different natural families of birds, many of which are 

 little connected by the physiological proximity we style affinity, but 

 by analogy rather, or similarity of external adaptations to a particular 

 mode of life. A large proportion of those of the Old World appertain 

 strictly to the great group, branching off from the Thrushes, which is 

 now currently known by the name Saxicolince. Of these I have many 

 species to describe ; but the group under consideration is altogether 

 distinct from the Flycatching Saxicolince, and though the different 



* It has lately been suggested to me that S. nipalensis, Hodgson, is identical with the 

 British Nuthatch ; but it is a widely different species, distinguished by its much smal- 

 ler size, proportionally very short bill, and by the belly, flanks, vent, and lower tail- 

 coverts, being uniform light ferruginous : in some (males?), the throat and fore-neck 

 are white, passing laterally into pale buff; while in others (females ?), a light buffy tint 

 pervades the whole throat and fore-neck. The two outermost tail-feathers only, on 

 each side, are marked with white. 



2 Q 



