CONOSTOMA IMODIUM, Hodg*.
Himalayan Conostoma.
Conostoma amodius, Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vol. x. p. 856.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc.
Calcutta, p. 101.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 312.
Conostoma emodium, Cat. of Sp. and Draw, of Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq.,
p. 102.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 368.
F o r our first knowledge of this curious bird we 'are indebted to the researches of Mr. Hodgson, who has
transmitted specimens from Nepaul to the Collections at the British Museum and the East India House.
It must be regarded as one of the rarest of the Indian birds, and also as one of the most interesting o f the
numerous species it has been Mr. Hodgson’s good fortune to make known to us. Much diversity of opinion
exists among Ornithologists as to the place this bird should occupy in the natural system : Mr. G. R. Gray
places it among the Callasatince, a subfamily o f the Cormdce or Crows, Mr. Blyth among the Parince or Tits,
while Mr. Hodgson inclines to the opinion that it has an affinity to the Glaucopinas: for my own part, I
should have little hesitation in placing it in the subfamily of which Crateropus forms a part, although it does
differ considerably from that form, both in the structure of the bill and the shape o f the nostrils. With
such a diversity of opinion existing on the subject, it is only an act of justice to the original describer to
give his view in his own words :—
“ Amongst the very numerous forms o f birds,” says Mr. Hodgson, “ known to me as inhabitants of
Nepaul, there is one which I believe to be still new to science, and to belong to a group, of the occurrence
o f which, either in these mountains or in the plains at their base, I know no other instance save that of the
ubiquitous tree Magpies. The group alluded to is the Glaucopinee or Finch-billed Crows of Swainson ; and
the single species I am acquainted with tenants exclusively the immediate neighbourhood of the perpetual
snows. In the lower and central regions it appears to be represented by the Timalias and Crateropi, to
both of which, and especially to the former, it bears in much of its structure the same close resemblance
that it does in its manners.
“ In manners the present species is a shy forester, adhering to the wilds and tenanting the skirts of
forests where brushwood as well as trees abound. Five or six birds are usually found together chattering,
hopping and scraping the ground, and resorting to the trees and shrubs chiefly for shelter. Their food is
principally insects of the soft and imperfect kind in summer, but in winter they doubtless take some vegetable
food.
“ Habitat, the northern region of Nepaul, close to the perpetual snows.”
The sexes are alike in colour, and may be thus described jsSjBga
The entire plumage dull olive-brown, paler beneath, becoming almost white on the forehead and nearly
black on the lo re s ; irides brown; bill dull orange ; legs slaty-grey.
The figures are of the natural size.