KEOSUTIIOEA. 115 



the finest grasses but, under these, were a few scraps of bamboo 

 leaves. It Avas bouud together with cobwebs and placed ia a 

 bamboo clump growiug on a grass-covered hillside. 



Tlie single egg contained in the nest was a pale hedge-sparrow 

 blue and measured 19-o x 15-2 mm. A nest witli three eggs taken 

 by a Naga were similar but the latter measured only about 

 18--1X 13-(i mm. 



Habits. An inveterate little skulker in long grass and scrub- 

 jungle, never taking to flight unless actuallj^ forced, but creeping 

 in and out low down and out of sight, though its constant 

 twittering- may be heard the whole time. They go about in large 

 parties numbering a dozen or more and, when they think they 

 are not beiug watclied, every now and then one climbs to a tall 

 grass, clnrps loudly and immediately descends again. They con- 

 sort frequently with bofcli Fsittiparas rufir.qjs and Paradoxornis 

 and it is very curious to watch these three E-ed-heads in company. 



The Black-browed Suthora is found in winter practically in 

 the plains and in summer breeds between 2,000 and -1,500 feet. 

 I found in the stomachs of those examined by me small grass- 

 hoppers, Coleoptera, and a few hard seeds. 



Genus NEOSUTHORA Hellmayr, 1911. 



This genus differs from Suthora in having the tail less graduated 

 and much shorter, not more than three-fourths the length of the 

 wing ; the bill is larger and much deeper in proportion ; the wing is 

 still more rounded, the 4th to the 7th being subequal. It contains 

 but one species, Neosntlwra davidiana, of,wiiich a subspecies, If. d. 

 thompsoni, comes within our limits. 



(103) Neosuthora davidiana thompsoni. 



Thompson's Suthora. 



Suthora thompso7ii Bingham, Bull. B. O. C, xiii, p. 63 (1903) (Kyat- 

 pyiu, Shan States). 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Top and sides of the liead bright cinnamon-rufous; 

 hind neck, back and rump pale slate-grey, more or less washed 

 with olive ; wings and tail grey-brown, the quills edged with bright 

 rufescent brown ; chin and throat black ; breast grey tinged with 

 buff, more especially on the centre ; flanks, abdomen and lower 

 tail-coverts clear brownish ochraceous. 



Colours of soft parts. Bill fleshy horny ; irides hazel ; legs 

 plumbeous grey. 



Measurements. Total length about 95 to 100 mm. ; wing 

 50 to 52 mm. ; tail 36 to 38 mm. 



Distribution. Southern Shan States. 

 Nidification and Habits. Not recorded. 



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