5. niERococcvx. 



235 



Ball, Str. F. ii. p. 393 (1874) ; Fairbank, Sir. F. iv. p. '2r,.5 

 (187G); Hutnp, t. c. p. 392; Fairbcmk, Str. F. v. p. 397 (1877) 

 Hall, t. c. p. 413, vii. p. 207 (1878) ; Cripps, t. c. p. 204 ; Hume 

 Str. F. viii. p. 88 (1879) ; Scully, t. c. p. 255 ; Legcjv, B. Ceylon, i 

 p. 240 (1880) ; Vidnl, Str. F. ix. p. 56 (1880) ; Butler, t. c. p. 388 

 lieicl, Str. F. x. p. 27 (1881) ; Darison, t. c. pp. 299, 359 ; Sioinh 

 iS|- Barnes, Ibis, 1 885, p. 63 ; Oates, ed. Humes Nests i^- Egos Ind. 

 B. ii. p. 383 (1890). 

 Hierococcyx nisoides, Blyth, Ibis, 18G6, p. 3G2. 



Adult. Very smilar in plumage to H. sparverioides, but smaller 

 and paler, and intermediate between that bird and U. fucjax. Above 

 uniform leaden grey, much paler than //. fuga.v, and having the 

 white bars on the outer tail-coverts more pronounced. The tail 

 is similar to that of //. .■sparverioides. The grey and white on the 

 head and chin are similarly distributed but paler ; remainder of the 

 underparts white, shading into pale rufous on the lower throat and 

 front of the chest, these feathers being mottled with pale grey. 

 The sides of the body which are generally washed with rufous are 

 broadly barred with dusky grey, which at once distinguishes the 

 species from H. fu</a.v and indicates its affinities to //. sparverioides. 

 " Iris yellow, orbits yellow ; bill black, greenish below, yellowish at 

 gape ; legs and feet dirty yellow " ( W. Davison) Total length 13-o 

 inches, culmen 0*95, wing 7'5, tail 7, tarsus 0-9. 



Immature. Similar to that oi H. sparverioides and //. fugax, but 

 intermediate in size. 



Hah. Indian Peninsula and Ceylon, ranging into Assam, Tenas- 

 serim, and Burma. 



