159 
1872.] W. T. Blanford — On Birds from Sikleim. 
325. ? Ekttheostebna acoebaus, Hodgs. 
(Conf. J. A. S. B. 1869, Pt. II, p. 174). 
A specimen from Darjiling which I am disposed to refer to this species 
has the upper parts olivaceous, whilst on the forehead there is a single blue 
feather. Can the male bird be blue ? I have nothing else to add to the 
suggestion of Mr. Hume that this form may be the female of B. maculata 
(J. A. S. B. 1870, Pt. II, p. 116). 
320. SlPHIA LEUCOMELATOJEA, (HodgS.) 
Of two specimens sent by Mr. Mandelli, one has the whole chin, throat 
and upper breast white, and the lower breast and abdomen sordid brown, 
the other has only the chin and throat white, and the rest of the lower parts, 
except the lower tail coverts, isabelline. In both the quills are brown, the 
primaries and all the secondaries, except the last 4 or 5, with rufescent 
margins. The female has been described by Dr. Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. 1868, 
Pt. II, p. 32. 
321. S. strPEBcnjAEis, (Blyth). 
Of this also two specimens are sent by Mr. Mandelli. The quills are 
brown with rufous margins, the central rectrices the same colour as the 
back, lateral rectrices darker, those nearest the centre with narrow faint 
subobsolete transverse bands, all margined with cyaneous ; extreme base of 
all rectrices, except the centre pair, white. In one specimen the ferruginous 
colour of the breast is mixed with olivaceous. Wing 2'3, tail 1'75, tarsus 0 7, 
bill 0-32 inch. 
313. Xitidui.a Hodgsoni, (Moore). 
The only specimen differs somewhat, both in colour and dimensions 
from Dr. Jerdon’s description. The quills are dark brown, not black, the 
secondaries externally with blue edges, the lores and ear coverts appear to 
be blue, and the colour below is rich ferruginous, as deep as in Larvivora 
superciliaris. Wing 1'9, tail 1'25, tarsus 0'63, bill from forehead 0'35, from 
gape 048 inch. 
This bird appears to me rather to consort with the Buticillmce than with 
the Muscicapime. Its bill is slightly more depressed than that of Icmlhia 
or Larvivora, and its legs a little shorter, but the difference is very small. 
The fact is, that the distinction between the two families is rather difficult 
to determine in these Himalayan forms. The bird was described by Moore 
as a Nemura 0 =Ianthia ). Mr. G. E. Gray, in his very useful Hand-list of 
genera and species of birds, evidently by oversight, quotes it twice ; as 
Nemura Hodgsoni (3188) at p. 222, and as Nitidula Hodgsoni (4903) at 
p. 327. 
