372 PTO'ONOTIDvi:. 



(388) Microscelis psaroides concolor. 



The Burmese Black Bulbul. 



Hypsipetes concolor B\yth, J. A. S.B., xviii, p. 816 (1849) (Tenas- 

 seriin) ; Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 261. 



Vernacular names. Xone recorded. 



Description. Differs from M. p. jtsaroides in having the grey 

 very dark, darker even than in nirjrescens and in having the black 

 of the head merge into the slightly paler back without any defi- 

 nition between the two. 



Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the Himalayan 

 form. 



Distril3ution. Eastern Burma, Shan States, Yunnan, Siam and 

 South Burma to Muleyit Mountain. Anderson's yunnanensis 

 cannot be separated from this form. 



Nidification. Similar to that of the other birds of this genus. 

 Twelve eggs average 27-2 x 19-4 mm., these few varying very 

 little either in size or shape. 



Habits. This is a forest bird, according to Davison keeping 

 more to the outskirts of jungle, clearings and more open forest 

 than the other races do. It is foinid from the level of the plains 

 in winter to at least 7,000 feet in the Kachin Hills in summer. 



(389) Microscelis psaroides ganeesa. 



The Southern Indian Black Bulbul. 



Hj/psipefes t/aneesa Sykes, P. Z.S., 18.32, p. 86 (Deccan) ; Blanf. 

 ■& Gates, i, p. 262. 



Vernacular names. Kele Kondiya (Ceylon). 



Description. Diffei-s from all the other races in having no black 

 line round the ear-coverts ; the grey is darker than in the 

 Himalayan form but the head is sharply defined from the back. 

 There is little or no white on ttie abdomen. 



Colours of soft parts. "Iris hazel dyed with lake-red; bill 

 orange-vermilion ; feet orange-yellow " {Fairhank). 



Measurements. This is the smallest of all the races except for 

 some specimens from the extreme South of Burma. Wing 112 to 

 120 mm., tail about 100 to 10-5 mm. 



Distribution. India South from Matheran and Ceylon. 

 McMaster obtained it at Chikaldar on the Garwilgurgh Hills in 

 Berar. 



Nidification. The Southern Black Bulbul seems normally to 

 frequent higher elevations for breeding purposes than do the other 

 races and will not often be found breeding below 4,000 feet. It 

 builds a nest similar to those of its relations elsewhere but makes 

 a greater use of dead leaves in its construction. It is often placed 

 at very great heights and seldom on saplings or bushes. The eggs 

 are almost invariably two only and differ from those of the 



