266 TIMALIID^. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris golden-brown or light brown ; bill 

 dark slaty-horn above, paler below ; legs and feet pale yellowish- 

 brown to greenish-brown. 



Measurements, Total length about 112 to 115 mm. ; wing 

 about 4y to 51 mm. ; tail about 50 mm. ; tarsus about 18 to 19 mm. ; 

 culmen about 12 mm. 



Distribution. Nepal, Sikkim to Assam, K". Chin Hills and 

 Maiiipur to Kachin Hills. 



Nidification. This pretty little Babbler makes a nest wliicli is a 

 small, neat facsimile of that of the last species but which is some- 

 times placed in bushes or, more of ten, bamboo clumps a few inches^ 

 to a couple of feet from the ground. It is generally domed but 

 cup-shaped nests- may be found when placed in positions where 

 there is cover overhead as in a thick clump of bamboo. It breeds 

 principally above 3,000 feet during May, June and July, laying 

 four eggs which are normally pure white but rarely a faintly 

 spotted egg may be found somewhat like those of the next genus. 

 The surface is close and has a Fair gloss and the shell is compara- 

 tively harder than that of the Black-throated Babbler. Sixty eggs 

 average 15'4xl2-l mm. 



Habits. The Golden-headed Babbler collects in the winter in 

 quite large Hocks numbering sometimes as many as 40. They keep 

 to the bushes and undergrowth in damp tree-forest, seldom if 

 ever descending to the ground hut perpetually on the move on 

 wing or feet as they scramble or flit from one twig to another in 

 search of their insect food. The entire time the whole flock keeps 

 up a constant soft, low twittering which rises to shriller and louder 

 notes of expostulation when disturbed. They do not mind being 

 watched and I have often sat for some minutes within a few feet 

 of a flock before they took tiieir departure. In the breeding 

 season the flocks break up and the birds frequent bamboo and 

 secondarv jungle as well as forest. It is found up to at least 

 6,000 feet." 



(274) Stachyris chryssea binghami. 



The Chin Hills Golden-headed Babbler. 



Stachyris bun/haim Eippon, Bull. B. O. C, xiv, p. 84 (1904) (Mt. 

 Victoria). 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Differs from the last bird in having the upper 

 parts ashy olive-green ; the lower parts dull orange-yellow and 

 the ear-coverts slaty-green. 



Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the last bird. 



Distribution. Central and 8. Ciiin Hills and N. Arrakan. 



Nidification unknown. 



Habits not recorded. 



