TDicm^jE. 375 



TiCKELL's FLOWEK-rECKER. 



Dcscr. — Above ashy-oiive, paler and flavesccnt beneath ; Avings 

 and tail darker ; bill pale fleshy, with a dusky tip ; legs leaden 

 brov/n ; iricTes brown ; sexes alike. 



Length 3| inches ; wing If ; tail | ; bill at front f ; tarsus y'-^. 



Young birds have the bill fleshy -red, except at the tip ; and 

 Latham's name was found on a drawing of one in which this 

 colour was exaggerated. 



It is found throughout Lower Bengal, and the jungles of Central 

 Lidia, extending to the Himalayas, Assam, and Arakan, and also to 

 Ceylon. Blyth observed it in extreme abundance in the hill-jungles 

 about Moulmein. It is also found, though rarely, in Southern 

 India, being there replaced by the next species. It frequents the 

 tops of high trees, and feeds on the nectar of flowers and minute 

 insects ; Layard foimd that it occasionally ate viscous berries, 

 probably those of a Ciiscuta. 



239. Dictum concolor, Jerdon. 



Jeedon, Cat. 137— Blyth, Cat. 1374— Jerd., 111. Ind. Orn. 

 pi. 39 — Chitlu-jitta, Tel. 



The Neilgherrt Flower-pecker. 



Deser. — Above brownish-olive, beneath greenish-white ; wings 

 and tail brown ; sexes alike. 



Bill dusky-brown ; legs cinereous-brown ; irides dark brown. 



Length 4^^^ inches; wing 2y'ij; tail ly'^; tarsus ^; bill at 

 front j\j. 



This species very much resembles the last, but is larger, much 

 more albescent beneath, and the bill wants the fleshy tinge of the 

 other, and is stronger and deeper than that of the last bird. It is 

 very abundant on the top of the Xeilghcrries, also in most of the 

 forests of Malabar, and in the woods of the Eastern Ghats. It 

 frequents the highest branches of lofty trees, hopping actively 

 about the small twigs and flowering branches, and feeding on 

 various minute insects ; also occasionally on the nectar of flowers, 

 and small llower-buds. 



