586 Notices and Descriptions of various new [No. 164. 



to the front, and its toes are compressed and ambulant, but with a 

 remarkably large thumb for such a foot." From a specimen taken to 

 England by Mr. Hodgson, I took the following note. — " Probably 

 only the young of H. brunnifrons, from the adults of which it differs 

 in the colour of the head being uniform with that of the back, and the 

 under-parts less albescent and devoid of any ashy tinge, being slightly 

 washed with yellowish. " These birds constitute a nivicolan or 

 northern hill group, representing the Prinice of the plains of India." 

 Hodgson's MSS.* 



Tesia, Hodgson (February, 1837) : Microura, Gould (August, 

 1837). Of this curious genus, the following species may now be enu- 

 merated. 



1. T. cyaniventer, Hodgson, J. A. S. y VI., 101 : Saxicola? olivea, 

 McClelland and Horsfield, P. Z. S., 1839, p. 161. Bright olive-green 

 above, slaty below. Nepal, Darjeeling, Assam. 



2. T. castaneo'coronata, (Burton), P Z. S. 1835, p. 152: T. 

 flaviventer, Hodgson, 1837. Bright olive-green above, vivid yellow 

 below, with the crown and ear- coverts a lively reddish-chesnut. 

 Nepal. 



3. T. squamata, (Gould), Icones Avium : var. A, T. rvfiventer, 

 Hodgson, J. A. S. VI, 102; Var. B, T. albiventer, Hodgson, ibid.; 

 Var. C, T. concolor, Hodgson, MS. I believe these to be all different 

 phases of plumage of the same species, and therefore venture upon 



* The following, to judge from specimens presented to the Society by Mr. Hodgson, 

 so far from being generically different, appears to me to be identical in species with 

 Horeites brunnifrons, presenting at most but an individual diversity, such as may 

 commonly be seen in different specimens of Prinia inornata, or Cysticola cursitans, 

 shot out of the same little society ; but 1 nevertheless give Mr. Hodgson's diagnosis, 

 as follows : — 



Nivicola, Hodgson, " Bill still shorter, feebler, Regulus-MkeyV/hh the notch 

 evanescent: wings and tail broader, firmer, ampler than in any of the above: tail 

 fan-like. Wings not absolutely round; the fifth quill longest ; the two first nearly, 

 the next little, and both inter se equally, gradated. Tarse medial : toes simple, 

 ambulant. Habitat the Cachar, near the snows. 



" N. schistilata, H. Above olive-brown, below white, and laterally pale slaty-blue. 

 Legs fleshy, bill pale. Cap on crown brunnescent. Coloured very like our Horeites 

 brunnifrons, but decidedly different in structure, with longer wings, broader and 

 firmer tail, and more ambulant feet, of which the central digit is long, the laterals 

 equal and nearly free, and the hind least and compressed. Length four inches and a 

 quarter; bill half an inch; tail two and one-sixteenth; wing one and fifteen- 

 sixteenths; central toe and nail ten-sixteenths; hind half an inch, or less." Hodgson's 

 MSS. p , 



