SCH(ENIPAKUS. 285 



completely domed, ep;g-.shaped affair measuring about 7 to 8 inches 

 In'gh by about 5 to 6 inches broad. The full complenient ot" eggs 

 is three or tour but sometimes two only are laid. Tlie eggs are 

 like those of the last bird and two hundred average 20'8 x 

 15-6 mm. ; the maxima are 22'0xl6'0 and 19'5xl6"l mm., and 

 minima 194 x 15-3 and 207 X 15"0 mm. 



Habits. During the winter the Assam Tit-Babbler collects in 

 small flocks of half-a-dozen to a dozen individuals, haunting forest 

 with ample undergrowth and to a less extent bamboo-jungle and 

 scrub. It is most common from 3,0u0 feet U|>ward8 and is found 

 up to at least (3,000 feet and possibly a good deal higher. It is a 

 restless, energetic little bird feeding partly on the ground, partly 

 on the low bushes and trees, constantly changing its position and 

 now and tlien fluttering from one perch to another as well as 

 scrambling and hopping through the cover. Whilst engaged in 

 feeding they utter a constant " chir-r-r-r" alternating v\ith a sharp 

 " chit." In the breeding season their habits alter greatly and they 

 become shy, retiring little birds, and instead of being able to watcli 

 them minutes at a time all one sees of them is a small brown 

 object slipping out of sight into cover when disturbed. 



(299) Schoeniparus dubius genestieri. 



Rippon's Tit-Babbler. 



Alcippe ye7iestieri Oustalet, Bull. Mus. d'Hist. Nat., Paris, iii, p. 210 

 (1897) (Tsekao). 



Vernacular names. Prep-dor (Kachin), 



Description. Differs from S. d. didnus in having the forehead 

 pale rufous ; the crown is golden-brown with very faint dark edges 

 to the feathers; the upper plumage is olive-brown and the sides 

 of the neck are not streaked. 



Colours of soft parts as in S. d. dubius. 



Measurements. Wing 58 to 61 mm. ; tail about 60 mm. ; tarsus 

 21 mm.; culmen II mm. 



Distribution. Kachin and Bhamo Hills, Yunnan, Shan States 

 and S.W. China. 



Hothschild has shown (Nov. Zool. xxviii, p. 36) that intermedius 

 is not separable from [/enestieri and with this I agree, but the former 

 sometimes has quite plain indications of the neck-stripes as in 

 mandeUii and as we should expect in that part of its range nearest 

 that race. 



Nidification. Eesembles that of the last bird. Harington, 

 Grrant and otiiers took many nests in March, April and May 

 between 4,00i) and 6,000 feet. The eggs are indistinguishable 

 from those ot the last two birds and measure about 19'9 x 15"5 mm. 



Habits differ in no way from those of the Assam Tit-Babbler. 



