200 Notices and Descriptions of various new QNo. 159 



longer bill, than in the others ; but all are closely allied, and have a 

 large naked space surrounding the eyes. 



Zanclostomus, Swainson. A. Bill green ; nostrils with rounded oval 

 aperture ; small bare and papillose skin surrounding the eyes ; tail 

 greatly elongated. 1, Z. tristis, (Lesson ; Ph. longicaudatus, nobis, 

 J. A. S. XI, 1095.) — B. Allied to last, with green bill ; nareal orifices 

 oval and minute ; no expanded and papillose naked space surrounding 

 the eyes. 2, Z. viridirostris, Jerdon. — C. Red bill, and nareal aperture 

 linear; no papillose skin on the face. 3, Z.javanicus, Horsfield, &c, 

 vide J. A. S. XI. 1097 ;* Piaya erythrorhyncha, Lesson. — D. A fourth 

 section would seem to be constituted by Z. flavirostris, Swainson, 

 < Birds of W. Africa,' Nat. Libr., Orn., VIII, p. 183, and pi. XIX. 

 Should it be thought necessary to separate the two first, they should 

 rank under Melias of Lesson. 



Taccocua, Lesson. This will comprehend the species confound- 

 ed under the " Sirkeer Cuckoo" of Latham. As compared with the 

 preceding, they have a shorter and more compressed bill, approaching 

 nearly in form to that of Centropus ; and they further approximate the 

 latter genus in the more than subspinous character of their plumage, 

 and in their ground habits, although their inner hind claw is short and 

 curved. The following are now for the first time distinguished. 



1 . T. infuscata, nobis : probably Coccyzus chrysogaster of Royle's 

 list of birds from the vicinity of Saharanpore. At least two species of 

 this group are indicated in Latham's description of his Sirkeer Cuckoo 

 {Gen. Hist. Ill, 267), the present being that first noticed by him, 

 and being characterized by its larger size and infuscated colouring. 

 " Length nineteen inches at least : * * * plumage on the upper parts 

 dusky, with a tinge of purple." — The specimen before me agrees with 

 others which I have seen from the Himalaya, and measures nineteen 

 inches in total length, the tail ten inches, its outermost feathers three 

 inches and a half less ; wing six and a half; tarse an inch and five- 

 eighths. Bill (as in the others) bright cherry-red at base, yellow at 

 the tip, with a triangular black spot on each side of the upper mandi- 

 ble : feet dusky-leaden, browner on the tarse. In all three species, 

 the upper parts may be described as brown, washed with dusky-green, 

 the feathers having shining black shafts ; but in the Himalayan bird, 

 * This species has the somewhat firmer tail of a true Phoenicophaus. 



