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



third has pale terminal specks on the feathers of the upper parts, 

 larger and elongated on those of the head, and the white of the under- 

 pays much as in the last, but rather more developed. This variation 

 of plumage is instructive, and a knowledge of it may prevent a mul- 

 tiplication of factitious species. Inhabits Nepal, and Darjeeling. 



4. T. pusilla, Hodgson, n. s. Size and proportions of the next, but 

 the bill rather longer, and the tail barely exceeding half an inch. In 

 general aspect it much resembles the rufiventer variety of the last. 

 Upper parts dark brown, the wing-coverts having terminal pale dots : 

 lores and under parts of a light wood-brown, the feathers slightly mar- 

 gined with black ; those of the flanks chiefly dark, with brown mar- 

 gins, and the extreme edge black, like the rest. Bill dusky above, 

 and legs horn-brown. Inhabits Nepal. 



5. T. caudata, nobis. Length three inches and five-eighths, of 

 which the tail measures an inch, being considerably more developed 

 than in the other species of analogous tone of colouring ; wing an inch 

 and three-quarters ; bill to forehead seven-sixteenths, and tarse eleven- 

 sixteenths. Upper parts dark and rich olive-brown, the feathers very 

 slightly margined with black, and having also black shafts ; throat 

 ferruginous, paling on the breast, where the feathers have black centres 

 and are further tipped with black ; the belly similarly marked with 

 dusky-black and white : wings uniform dark reddish-brown ; and tail 

 inclining to the same, being also very soft and flexible : lores and 

 orbital region ash-grey : bill blackish ; and legs brown. From Darjeeling. 



To these may be added the Troglodytes microurus of Ruppell, which 

 shews the form to be likewise African. 



Mr. Hodgson proposes to restrict Tesia to T. cyaniventer and T. 

 Jlaviventer, and applies a new name to the others, which, however, if 

 deemed separable, would rank under Microura of Gould : unless, in- 

 deed, the latter be pre-occupied, in which case the name Pnoepyga, 

 Hodgson, would be admissible. The two species cited have a more 

 developed tail ; but so has my T. caudata, which nevertheless decidedly 

 belongs to the Microura section ; and Mr. Hodgson further points out 

 that T. cyaniventer has the bill flatter at base, while in T. Jlaviventer 

 the nareal scale, conspicuous in the others, is barely traceable : neverthe- 

 less, I do not see that they can be justifiably separated. According to 

 the same naturalist, " these singular birds are solely mountaineers, 

 dwelling in humid retired woods, where under-cover abounds. They 



