Birds of Celebes: Timeliidae. 
501 
of exploration through the almost impassible virgin-forest and gorges of the in- 
terior between Manado and Gorontalo. 
The Drs. Sarasin made the following notes on this bird. In the stomach 
of the first specimen : “insects, beetles”. “In certain high regions of the Mantinang 
chain (whence came the second example) Malia is one of the most plentiful 
birds. Its powerful cry resounds on aU sides, bringing to mind certain notes 
of our Blackbird, and one often sees them clinging like Woodpeckers to stems”. 
The genus Malia is peculiar to Celebes, and its nearest allies are not 
readily to be found. 
The next genus, Andropkilus, has much in common with it — very similar 
wings, legs, rictus, and distribution of colours, but it has 10 rectrices only in 
its still more graduated tail. Dr. Sharpe speaks of Malia as nearly allied to 
Mpstacornis and as thus shewing a link between the Avifaunae of Celebes and 
Madagascar, but, with all respect for the judgment of this eminent ornithologist, 
we must say Mystacornis differs greatly in coloration, in shape of bill, in tarsus, 
in form of tail, which is hardly graduated — indeed we do not know what can 
be said for the affinity of the two birds, except that they belong to the same 
family. Malia is a highly interesting Celehesian type, which must take equal 
rank with Meropogon, Scissirostrum etc. 
GENUS ANDROPKILUS Sharpe. 
These birds are of about the size of a Sparrow, and the olivaceous of the 
upper surface extends over the sides, flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts below. 
They are best characterized by the strongly graduated tail of 10 feathers, and 
by the almost comjrlete absence of rictal bristles, about three minute bristles 
being found, if looked for. Chlmen shorter than the cranium, nearly straight, 
the tip overlapping, a small denticulation; nostril oval, the feathers of the forehead 
covering the nasal membrane, but not the nostril ; wing short, blunt, and curved 
to fit the body, the quill- formula as in Malia \ tarsus and toes large, the tarsus 
slightly longer than the middle toe and claw. 
In wing, legs, the absence of I’ictal bristles, and the distribution of its colours 
this genus agrees with Malia it differs by its graduated tail of 10 feathers and 
its straight hill with the decurved tip overlapping from the notch; the anterior 
toes are also relatively a little longer. It is also allied to Mr. Ogilvie Grant’s 
Pseudotharrhaleus , which is like it in general appearance, but has twelve tail- 
feathers. 
Androphiliis is at present known from the highlands of Celebes and from 
Mt. Kini Balu, Borneo. 
