POMATORHINUS MONTANUS. 
Pomatorhinus has no analogy to any other genus of the family of Dentirostres. 
Although the bill has a small degree of validity, it possesses the essential character 
of the Temiirostres, as defined by M. Cinder, It is long, slender, arched, and 
entire. Agreeably to the comparisons which I have been able to institute, it is most 
nearly related to that division of the genus Cinnyris, as employed by M. Cuvier, 
the individuals of which have bills of moderate length. In order to afford the means 
of comparison, the bill of Pomatorhinus has been accurately represented in the 
Plate of Illustrations, and I proceed to detail the distinguishing characters in refer- 
ence to this. The bill is abruptly compressed immediately before the nares, and rises 
to an elevated rounded culmen or back ; the sides are even and vertical ; both man- 
dibles are nearly of equal breadth, and the tomia, or cutting edges, are directly opposed 
to each other : tliis character is of importance, as, together with the validity of the 
bill, it affords a clear distinction from Cinnyris, in which the edges of the mandibles 
are inflected, and the lower mandible is partially received into the upper. The 
covering of the nares, although it generally resembles that which exists in Cinnyris, 
is larger and more developed, constituting an arched operculum of an oval form and 
horny texture, which projects horizontally, and nearly conceals the anterior portion 
of the nasal aperture, while its outer margin is slightly inflected, and resembles the 
border of a very minute shell. The aperture itself is directed obliquely towards 
the forehead. 
As far as regards the affinity of Pomatorhinus, much research is still necessary 
for determining it. The materials which I have been enabled to consult, have exhibited 
chiefly its relations to Cinnyris ; these appear from the preceding details. But its 
relations to the other genera of this family, and its connexions in a natural series, have 
not been ascertained satisfactorily. In the systematic catalogue, which contains a 
concise description of the birds which I collected in Java, the relations of Pomatorhinus 
to Prinia were pointed out as they exhibit themselves in the validity of the bill, its 
sudden compression before the nares, and the entireness of the cutting edges. But 
an interruption in a natural series still remains, between Prinia and Pomatorhinus. 
In Pomatorhinus montanus, the upper parts of the body, wings, and tail, as 
well as the posterior portion of the neck, are brown ; but this colour differs in its 
shades and degrees of intensity on different parts. It is chestnut, with a reddish hue, 
on the neck, back, and scapulars, while it becomes gradually obscure, and assumes 
an olivaceous tint, on the upper parts of the tail and wings. The colour of these 
parts underneath, as well as the extremity of the quill-feathers, is dark brown, 
inclining to black ; but the vivid chestnut tint of the neck and back is diffused over 
the lateral parts of the breast and abdomen. The head above and at the sides, and 
