184 TIMALIID^. 



Geuus GRAMMATOPTILA Eeichnb., 1850. 



The genus Orammatoptila contains but one species, wliich may 

 be recognized by its stout, deep and short bill, striated plumage and 

 by the long frontal hairs whicli reach over the nostrils. It is in 

 habits and nidification near Trocliulopterum, and seems to form a 

 link between the true Laughing-Thrushes and the birds of the 

 genera Ttirdoides and Arr/ifa. There are two geographical races. 



Grammatoptila striata. 



Key to Suhspecies. 



A. Feathers of crest not jstreaked with white ; 



no brown hands on sides of crown .... G. striata striata, p. 184. 



B. Feathers of crest/^-eaked with white ; a 



brown band on either side of crown. ... G. s. austeni, p. 185. 



(177) Grammatoptila striata striata. 

 The Striated Latjghing-Thrush. 



Gan-idns striatus Vigors, P. Z. S., 18.30, p. 7 (Himalayas, Naini-Tal). 

 Grammatoj)tila striata. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 103. 



Vernacular names. Nampiolc-pjlw (Lepcha) ; Kopiam (Bhut.). 

 Description. Whole upper plumage, sides of head and neck, 

 chin and throat umber-brown, darkest on the crown, shading off 



^-SS^U^-^'^ - 



Fig. 30.~Head of G. s. striata. 



into pale brown on the lower plumage ; every feather of the whole 

 plumage including inner secondaries but not other quills, with a 

 long median white streak, the streaks larger but less defined on 

 the abdomen and under tail-coverts ; quills dark brown, the outer 

 webs of the first few primaries hoary, of the others pale chestnut ; 

 tail chestnut, the outer feathers with a minute white tip, 



Colours of soft parts. Iris lake or reddish brown ; bill black ; 

 legs dull slate or slaty-brown. 



Measurements. Length about 300 to 310 mm. ; wing about 140 

 to 150 mm. ; tail about 132 to 136 mm. ; tarsus about 42 mm. ; 

 culmen about 25 mm. 



Distribution. Himalayas from the Sutlej Valley to Bhutan. 



