NEW GENUS OF SILVIADiE. 



165 



IV.— NEW GENUS and 3 NEW SPECIES of the STLVIAD^. 



SylviadtE. Genus new, Yuhina, nobis; Yuhin of the Nipalese. 



Bill equal to the head, slender, acute, depressed as far as the nares, 

 gradually compressed beyond ; maxilla cut out to centre by nasal fossae, 

 convex beyond, subarcuated throughout, and gently inclined at tip, with 2 or 

 3 sharp teeth on either side ; mandibula straight, equal to maxilla, pointed ; 

 teniae of both, trenchant, erect, scarped and locked throughout ; nares large, 

 the aperture lunated and lineated by a nude, incumbent, soft, membrane. 



Tongue subequal to bill, cartilaginous, deeply forked, and the prongs fila- 

 mentous and convolved ; wings sub-medial, round-acuminate, firm ; 1st quill 

 small, 5tli usually longest ; tail short, firm, square ; tarsi stout, finely scaled, 

 longer than any toe ; toes simple ; exterior connected to the joint ; laterals and 

 hind subequal ; last very stout and depressed : nails falcate, acute ; anteriors 

 subequal; hind much the largest ; head crested ; rictus slightly bristled.* 



Habitat, central and northern regions. Food, viscid stony berries and 

 small scaly insects, such as harbour among foliage. It is the opinion of 

 Mr. Vigors that these singular little birds serve to connect the SilviadcB 

 with the Cerlhiad<B. In the structure of the bill and tongue, and even of 

 the feet and wings, they remind me of the genus Sibia (nobis) and of others 

 of the Philedonian Thrushes of CuviER—a group the contents of which 

 have been referred at random to the Tenuirostral Meliphag ida, and (in part 

 at least) to the long-legged division of the Thrushes. These are high 

 matters of classification, which may perchance be settled with an approach 

 to accuracy some 50 years hence, provided our investigations meanwhile 

 be carried into the general structure and prevalent habits of species, — and 

 be not confined, as now, to closet dissertations on dried skins. 



* If family and sub-family cliaracters had the requisite precision, and our genus could be 

 now safely referred to a given family and sub-family, half of the tedious particulars of the 

 generic character might have been omitted, as they will be hereafter. 



11 



