336 timaliidjE. 



The female bas the crown tlie same grey as the forehead, and 

 there are no traces uf black or blackish on the face. 



Distribution, Nepal, Sikkim and Hills North of the Brahma- 

 putra. 



Nidification. Nests and eggs sent me by Mr. D. Macdonald and 

 Mr. A\'^. P. Masson with the parent birds are exactly like those o£ 

 the next form, nor 'can the eggs be distinguished from those 

 of that bird. They measure about 19-3 x 14-8 mm. 



Habits. This is a quiet, rather retiring bird, but cannot be called 

 shy as it does not mind being watched. It keeps to the tops of 

 the higher trees in deep forest and is so slow and unobtrusive in 

 its habits that it does not attract attention and its low, rather 

 pleasant, call-notes cannot be heard at any distance. It is not 

 gregarious, being generally found in pairs, and feeds on small 

 insects and small berries and seeds. 



(359) Pteruthius xanthochloris occidentalis. 



The Simla Gree^ Shkike-Babblek. 



Pteritthitis xanthochloris occidentalis Harington, Bull. B. O. C, xxxiii, 

 p. 82 (1913) (Dehra Dun). 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. — Male. Differs from the last in having the crown 

 and nape ash-grey instead of blackish and the whole plumage is 

 somewhat paler and less vivid. The female differs in having the 

 head greenish with a wash of grey. 



Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the last. 



Distribution. N.W. Himalayas from the Sutlej Valley to 

 Garhwal and, possibly, W. Nepal. 



Nidification. Nests taken by Osmaston and Eattray are 

 described as deep cradles of root-fibres and lichen, bound together 

 with cobwebs, lined witli the finest black roots and rhizouiorph of 

 a fungus and attached to small forks in the outer branches of 

 spruce or deodar. They apparently breed from April to Jul}' at 

 elevations between 5,000 and 9,000 feet and lay two to four eggs. 

 These are miniatures of those of P. erytliropterus and ten eggs 

 average about 19-4 x 14"6 ram. 



Habits. Practically nothing recorded.- It keeps much to heavy 

 tree-forest in pairs or solitary, frequenting the higher branches, 

 where it attracts no attention either by A'oice or its quiet 

 movements. 



Genus HILAROCICHLA Oates, 1889. 



The genus HilurocicMa was created by Oates for a species A'ery 

 close to Pteruthius but differing in its much longer tail. This is 

 equal to the wing in length and is greatly graduated, the outer- 

 most feather being about one-tliird less than the central ones. In 

 other respects Hilarociehia and Pteruthius are alike. 



