PARABOXOBWIS AUSTENI, «
PARADOXORNIS AUSTENI , n. sp.
Austen’s Paradoxornis.
As long ago as 1836 I published the first species of the remarkable genus Paradoxornis-, and ever since
that time it has been a disputed point amongst ornithologists as to where this genus should be placed
in the natural system ; it has found various positions, being by some referred to the Timaliid®, and
by others to the Fringillidm. Since the genus was first instituted by me, several allied forms, such as
Suthora, Cholomis, &c., have been discovered; and Paradoxornis itself now numbers several representatives.
The smaller forms like Suthora appear to lead off towards the Paridae, and Paradoxornis to Conosloma and
the Timaliidae; whilst P . Hrndei, belonging apparently to another subgenus which may be called Calamornis,
IS so closely allied to Calamophilus, that I have no doubt in my own mind that they form together a naturaH
group.
But we must now speak of the present species, one of the novelties which has rewarded the energy
of Major Godwin-Ansten, who has done so much to enlighten our ignorance of the little-known bir°ds
of the hill-country on the north-eastern frontiers o f our Indian Empire; and I have accordingly named it
after him.
There can be no doubt that P. Austeni is very closely allied to P . fkmrostris-, but it has no black
throat, this p art being white, with a few black spots on the fore neck; and as these characters appear to
be constant, I have no hesitation in describing it as a new species.
Major Godwin-Ansten sends me the following note on the present bird:—“ Of the lighter-coloured
species, which you propose to honour me by naming after me, I obtained five specimens, all precisely alike
—two in the Naga Hills near Kncbai, the others at Shillong in the Khasi Hills, in both localities at an
elevatiou of from 5000 to 6000 feet above the level of the sea. These hills are well wooded in parts, with
open grass-lands. A specimen from the Naga Hills measured in the fiesh—length 7-8 inches, w u ^ 3-3,
tail 4 1 , tarsiis 1-05, bill, from front 0'67, from gape 0-4. Legs plumbeous, with a slight tinge o f green |
bill yellow. The dark-coloured bird {Paradoxornisflarirostris'), o f which I left one specimen with yon, I
obtained in the great heels (marshes) near Bolagunj, on the south side of the Khasi Hills, where it was the
only form seen in December and April; it evidently breeds there. This very low marshy tract is covered
with high grasses (from 12 to 18 feet high), dense thickets o f a rose, and bulrushes, but no trees.”
Above very pale brown, the tail almost uniform with the back, and showing some slight barring when held
away from the lig h t; wings rather darker than the back, the inner webs of the quills deep sepia-brown;
entire head and hind neck pale sandy rufous; lores, feathers all round and below the eye, as well as on the
fore part of the cheeks, buffy white; ear-coverts black; sides of neck very pale sabdy buff; under surface of
body huffy white, more fulvous on the sides and flanks, the chin slightly blackish, and the fore neck marked
with a few triangular spots o f black; under wing-coverts clear fulvous, like the inner lining of the wing.
The figures in the Plate are of the size of life.