lUHIXA. 



319 



Measurements. Total length about 165 mm. ; wing about 74 to 

 77 mm. ; tail about 74 mm. ; tarsus about 24 mm. ; culmen about 

 1(5 to 17 mni. 



This bird only diffex's from Y. d. diademata in being darker 

 throughout and in having the breast and sides of the head more 



Distribution. Yuniiau and Kachin Hills. 



Nidification. Breeds in the Bhamo Hills in April and May, 

 making a fliiusy, almost transparent cup of black roots with a few 

 scraps of bracken, well plastered with cobwebs and lined with fine 

 black roots and fern-rachides. They are invariably placed low down 

 in brambles, bracken or coarse grass and measure outwardly about 

 4" l)y 2|" deep. The eggs are two in number, very I'arely three, 

 and are long ovals in shape, the ground-colour a dull greenish blue 

 with profuse blotches and specks all over of umber-brown . 

 Twenty-two eggs average 20'oXl4-9 mm. 



Habits. A common bird in the Bhanio Hills, going about in small 

 flocks in higher saplings and trees. Haringtou says " They are 

 very Tit-like in tlieir habits and notes, continually raising the crest 

 and so revealing the conspicuous white patch at the back of the 

 head." They seem to be found between 4,500 and 7,000 feet. 



.^' 



Fig. 58. — Head of Y. o. occipitalis, 



(342) Yuhina occipitalis occipitalis. 



Yuhina occipitalis Hodgs., As. Ees., xix, p. 160 (1836) (Nepal) ; 

 Blaiif. & Gates, i, p. 212. 



Vernacular names. Tihriiujlng-pho (Lepcha). 



Description. Porehead and crest slaty-grey witli whitish shaft- 

 streaks, posterior feathers of crest and nape chestnut ; hind neck 

 ashy ; upper plumage rufous-brown ; the wings and tail brown, 

 the outer webs of the feathers suffused and margined with rufous- 

 brown ; a circle of white feathers round the eye ; ear-coverts and 

 the region of the eye slaty-grey, streaked whitish ; a nari-ow 

 int(^irupted black moustachial streak ; chin, thi'oat, breast and 

 sides of neck vinous ; sides of the abdomen rusty-grey, centre pale 

 chestnut; thighs, vent and under tail-coverts bright chestnut; 

 under winc-coverts and edjre of winjr white. 



