298 TIMALIID^. 



and keep much to the higher branches of firs, spruce and similar 

 trees, using their wings far more and their feet far less than bii'ds 

 of the preceding sub-faniih'; at the same time their flight is dipping 

 and slow, nothing like that of the Turdiche. They are rather 

 noisy birds, but their notes are very pleasing and Hutton says 

 their "loud, ringing call titteree, tittei-ee, tueeyo quickly repeated 

 may be constantly heard on wooded banks during summer." 



(312) Leioptila capistrata pallida. 



The Pale Sibia. 



Lioptiln capistrata fallida Hartert, Kat. Viig. Senckenb. Mus., p. 21 

 (1891) (Simla), 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Differs from L. c. capistrata in being paler every- 

 where and in having the lower parts a pale, almost pinkish 

 rufous. 



Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the last. 



Distribution. IV.W. Himalayas, Hazara to Garhwal. 



Nidification. The nest and eggs cannot be distinguished from 

 the last but Mr. A. E. Jones has taken some very beautiful 

 erythristic clutches in Simla. Twenty -four eggs average about 

 Z5-0xl8-lmm. 



Habits. Found from 5,000 to 9,000 feet elevation in the same 

 kind of haunts as the last bird. 



(313) Leioptila gracilis. 



The Geey Sibia. 



Hypsipetes </racilis McClelL, P. Z. S., 1839, p. 159 (Assam). 

 Lioptila (jracilis. Blauf. & Gates, i, p. 197. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Forehead, crown and lores black, paling on the 

 nape and ear-coverts anrj blending with the rich slaty-brown of 

 the hind neck, back and scapidars ; rump and upper tail-coverts 

 ashy-grey ; lesser, median and primary coverts, and outer feathers 

 of the greater coverts black ; remaining greater coverts and inner- 

 most secondaries bluish-ashy, edged with bhick, and the basal 

 portions more or less white ; quills black, the earlier primaries 

 edged Avith hoary-grey on the outer webs ; central tail-feathers 

 bluish-grey with subterminal black bands, the black bands and 

 grey tips increasing in extent until the outermost feathers are 

 entirely black with grey tips ; chin, throat and cheeks white, 

 becoming fulvous on tlie breast and abdomen, the sides of which 

 are washed witli lilac ; vent and under tail-coverts buff. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris red to bright crimson, reddish-brown 

 in young birds; bill black; legs and feet brown to brownish-black, 

 the feet and claws darker still. 



