TROCHALOPTERUM. 161 



like that of /. rufoijidaris, but seems to be generally placed 

 in a low bush, or a tangle of canes or raspberry bushes quite 

 close to the ground. The eggs, two or three in number, are 

 pure white, fragile, with a very slight gloss, and 48 average about 

 26-3 X 19-0 mm. 



Habits. I found the bird in the Ivhasia and Cacliar Hills in 

 rhododendron and stunted oak forest, going about in pairs or 

 small family parties in the dense undergrowth. They were just 

 as loath to take to wing as other members of this subfamily, and 

 when forced to do so Huttered and sailed alternately to the next 

 bit of cover, into which they tumbled headlong rather than 

 settled. They kept up a continuous chatter, but were not particu- 

 larly noisy. Those examined by me had eaten both insects and 

 seeds, several containing masses of a small red ant, a most vicious 

 biter. 



(1-17) lanthocincla austeni victoriae. 

 T UE Chin Hills Ladghing-Turush. 



lanthocincla vktorice Rippon, Bull. B. 0. C, xvi, p. 47 (1906) 

 (Mt. Victoria). 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Differs from the Cachar bird in being more olive 

 and less red above and in having the lower parts much paler and 

 whiter, each feather being edged with white. 



Colours of soft parts as in the last. 



Measurements. Total length 244 mn).; wing 94 mm. {Rippon). 



Distribution. South Chin Hills. 



Nidification unknown. 



Habits. A bird of high elevations, only found between 7,000 

 and 10,000 feet. 



I 



Genus TROCHALOPTERUM Hodgson, 1843. 



The genus Trochalopterum differs from the ])receding genera in 

 having the base of the bill quite devoid of all bristles and liairs, 

 the nostrils and tlieir membranes being free and exposed. In 

 other respects it is quite typical of the subfamily. 



The bill varies a gt)od deal in length and stoutness, and the 

 nostrils in some are oval and exposed, whilst in others they are long 

 and narrow and partly covered by a membrane. Oates and 

 Harington point out that those birds with short, stout bills lay 

 unspotted eggs, whilst those with slender bills and long linear 

 nostrils lay spotted eggs. This is true, but, on the other hand, 

 birds of the group of Laughing-Thrushes with the curious wing- 

 speculum, probably an older feature than bill and nostril, all lay 



VOL. I. M 



