1847.] or Little Known Species of Birds. 141 



if that of the Arracan mountains prove identical, as is most probable, it 

 may be expected to occur likewise in those of Assam, Munneepore, 

 Sylhet, &c* 



Oreocincla, Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 145. The more characteristic 

 species of this group make a very close approach to the preceding, 

 insomuch that there is hardly any difference between the bill of the 

 Arracan specimen of presumed Z. monticola above described, and that 

 of a Neilgherry near ally to O. varia, except that in the latter the 

 culmen scarcely ascends from the base, while in other specimens of 

 Oreocincla it distinctly ascends. Again, O. macrorhyncha, Gould, 

 (P. Z. S. 1835, p. 145), from New Zealand, is described to be nearly 

 allied to O. varia, from which it differs "in the much larger size of the 

 bill, and in the deeper black colouring of the margins of the feathers ;" 

 so that it is even probable that the dividing line cannot be drawn 

 between the two groups, especially as the black margins to the feathers 

 of the upper-parts, which are especially characteristic of most of the 

 Oreocinclce, do not occur in all of them, as for example the species 

 which I introduce next. 



2. O. molfissima, nobis, XI, 188: O. rostrata, Hodgson, Ann. Mag. 

 N. H. 1845, p. 326. In some specimens of this bird, the beak appears 

 abnormally grown out, and altogether coarser than in that which I 

 originally described ; and Mr. Hodgson's O. rostrata is founded upon 

 an example of the kind : but I have recently examined a fine series of 

 specimens, which has shewn their identity beyond a doubt. They com- 

 monly measure from ten to eleven inches in total length ; and some 

 have the wing-coverts broadly tipped with pale fulvous of which no 

 trace occurs in others. Common in the vicinity of Darjeeling. 



3. O. neilglierriensis, nobis, n. s. This species was originally sent 

 me by Mr. Jerdon as the Turdus varius of his catalogue, which latter 

 he has lately referred to O. dauma {Madr. Journ. No. XXXI, 127); 

 but he has since obtained additional examples of the present species, 

 which is conspicuously distinct from O. dauma. From the Javanese O. 



* A second specimen from Arracan accords with the above description, except that 

 its size is fully equal to that of the Himalayan bird; its beak, however, being rather 

 smaller. This disposes me to the opinion that it is distinct, in which case I propose 

 for it the name Z. marginata. One or the other of these birds was procured by Dr. 

 McClelland in Assam; apparently the Arracan species, to judge from the drawing. 



