1845.] or little known species of Birds. 197 



8. P. pygmceus, Vigors, P. Z. S. 1830^ p. 44. A description of 

 this species, from a series comprising older and finer specimens than 

 those from which the Latin diagnosis was drawn up, may here be offer- 

 ed. Allied to the two next, but larger ; the wing measuring from three 

 inches and a quarter to three and a half, and tail one and seven-eighths 

 to two inches. Four middle tail-feathers wholly black, and the next 

 white only on its exterior margin : this constituting a good distinction, 

 as in all the following the whole of the tail-feathers are spotted with 

 white. The male has a crimson occipital crescent, the lateral halves 

 of which unite only in fine old specimens : in younger examples, this 

 crimson is confined to a mere lateral tuft, as in the following ; and I have 

 seen specimens in every degree intermediate. Forehead and crown 

 ashy-brown, the crimson of the occiput surrounded with black exter- 

 nally, forming a streak over each eye, continued to meet and expand 

 posteriorly. Another and brownish-black streak, more or less deve- 

 loped, passes backward from below the eye ; and between this and the 

 last is a large triangular white patch on the sinciput. Upper parts 

 black, with white cross-bands on the back, and the usual rows of white 

 spots on the wings : outermost and penultimate tail-feathers barred on 

 the outer web with white, and having a single white bar, and some- 

 times two, crossing the feather towards its tip ; throat dull white ; the 

 rest of the under parts brownish-white, with narrow dark central lines 

 to the feathers. The hoary-grey colour upon the back mentioned in 

 Mr. Vigors's description, must refer to that of the base of the feathers, 

 as shewn in a specimen thin of plumage. Common in the Himalaya. 



9. P. canicapi/lus, nobis. Differs from P. moluccensis in the much 

 blacker hue of its upper parts, in the pale ash-colour of the head, a 

 little tinged with brown and bordered laterally with black, from amid 

 which appears the slight crimson sincipital tuft of the male ; the size 

 also is rather larger, the wing measuring three inches and one-eighth to 

 three and a quarter, tail one and three-quarters, and bill to forehead 

 five-eighths : the under parts are whitish, purer on the throat, and the 

 rest marked with central dusky-black lines. Common in Arracan. 



(L^ J 10. P. moluccensis, Latham ; figured by Hardwicke and Gray. Distin- 

 / guished by its prevalent brownish or sooty-black colour, and its rufes- 

 cent brown head and streak passing through the ear-coverts. Hab. 

 Central and Southern India. 



10. P. nanus, Vigors, P. Z. S. 1830, p. 172. Has a larger bill 

 than either of the three preceding species, measuring three-quarters of 



