1846.] or Little Known Species of Birds. 313 



he adds, as a note, that he had entertained suspicions that C. cauda- 

 cuta was merely the young of the other ; but continues — " and yet the 

 different form of its tail-feathers is so totally opposed to this supposi- 

 tion, that until such a similarity" (meaning specifical identity) " is 

 established beyond all doubt, I must continue to hold the opinion 

 here acted upon." That his C. caudacuta is a bird in immature 

 plumage, I feel no doubt whatever ; and I can only say, that I have 

 again and again seen it associated with adult C. viridis in Malacca 

 collections, the two being evidently intended by the dealers who 

 prepare these collections for male and female of the same.* 



Near the Pipridce of course rank the Ampelidce, to which Mr. 

 Hodgson refers his genus Ccchoa (since called by him Prosorinia), 

 V, 359, XII, 450; but this remarkable genus wants one noted charac- 

 ter of the Ampelidce, (including the Wax wings) and Pipridce, in 

 common with various other South American groups, having the 

 first primary but one third of the length of the second, which again is 

 considerably shorter than the third. Of the two species, C. purpurea 

 seems common in the S. E. Himalaya, as at Darjeeling ; C. viridis, 

 decidedly rare. For a specimen of this latter beautiful bird, the 

 Society is indebted to the lady of W. H. Oakes, Esq., C. S. ; and the 

 late Mr. Webb, of Darjeeling, among numerous other specimens with 

 which he favoured the Society (including Alcedo grandis, Accentor 

 mollis, Pericrocotus Solaris, Troglodytes punctatus, Tesia pusilla, 

 Potnatorhinus ferruginosus, Certhia discolor, Chleuasicus ruficeps, 

 and other novelties yet to be described), obliged us with what is 

 evidently a male, in nestling plumage, of C. purpurea, which is 

 worthy of a particular notice. The wings and tail are as in the 

 adult male; but the back is quite black, the scapularies and smaller 

 wing-coverts having a central brown spot on each feather ; coronal 

 feathers broadly tipped with white, having a black margin at their 

 extreme tips; a portion of the ear-coverts similarly marked with 

 white ; and the entire under-parts are light ferruginous, with a broad 

 black tip to each feather, less developed on those of the middle of the 

 throat. The plumage of the back, scapularies, and under-parts, recals 

 to mind that of a young male English Blackbird. 



* Since writing the above, I have had an opportunity of examining several dozens; 

 and should remark that I could find no instance of a transitional moult, or indeed of 

 any moulting bird among them. 



2 T 



