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Arboricola mandellii, Hume, 

 Vernacular Names.— [ ? ] 



O far as we know, this lovely species is confined to the 

 low hills of Bhutan and the Duars which skirt their 

 bases. 



Nothing absolutely is known of its habits, food or 

 note, though we may conjecture that all these are very 

 similar to those of its congeners. Apparently it fre- 

 quents dense damp jungles. About a dozen specimens only 

 have as yet been obtained, and all by Mr. Mandelli's hunters 

 in the Bhutan Duars. 



Nothing is known of its nidification. 



The following are the dimensions ( taken from the dry skin) 

 of a presumed male : — 



Length, 8*5 ; wing, 5*0 ; tarsus, r$ ; mid toe and claw, 175 ; 

 bill from gape, 0*9 ; bill at front, 0*65 ; height at front, 0*3 ; tail 

 from vent, r$. 



The sexes do not differ materially, Mr. Mandelli says, though, 

 the females are rather smaller and less brightly coloured ; at the 

 same time, I believe that none of Mr. Mandelli's specimens 

 were sexed by dissection. 



The plate, though a pretty picture, is by no means correct in 

 colour. The hind head should be much browner, contrasting with 

 the forehead ; from the lores under the eye should be a strongly 

 marked black line ; below this, from the base of the lower 

 mandible, a short dull white mandibular stripe ; the red of the 

 breast should be a rather more maroon chestnut, contrasting 

 strongly with that of the throat, which should be rather more 

 rusty and ferruginous. The lower parts should not be drab, but 

 dingy slatey grey, with a faint brownish shade. 



The ground colour of the wings, back and rump should be 

 olive ; the feathers, just above the shoulder of the wing, olive, 

 with a slatey blue tinge. 



