NEOSUTHORA. IAS 
the finest grasses but, under these, were a few scraps of bamboo 
leaves. It was bound together with cobwebs and placed in a 
bamboo clump growing on a grass-covered hillside. 
The single egg contained in the nest was a pale hedge-sparrow 
blue and measured 19-5152 mm. A nest with three eges taken 
by a Naga were similar but the latter measured only about 
18°4 x 13°6 mm. 
Habits. An inveterate little skulker in long grass and scrub- 
jungle, never taking to flight unless actually forced, but creeping 
in and out low down and out of sight, though its constant 
twittering may be heard the whole time. They go about in large 
parties emberins a dozen or more and, when ‘they think they 
are not being watched, every now and then one climbs to a tall 
erass, chirps ‘loudly and immediately descends again. They con- 
sort frequently with both Psittiparus ruficeps and Paradoxornis 
and it is very curious to watch these three Red-heads in company. 
The Black-browed Suthora is found in winter practically in 
the plains and in summer breeds between 2,000 and 4,500 feet. 
I found in the stomachs of those examined by me small grass- 
hoppers, Coleoptera, and a few hard seeds. 
Genus NEOSUTHORA Hellmayr, 1911. 
This genus differs from Suthora in having the tail less graduated 
and much shorter, not more than three-fourths the length of the 
wing ; the bill is larger and much deeper in proportion ; ‘he wing is 
still more rounded, ae 4th to the 7th being subequal. It cua 
but one species, Neasaihor a davidiana, of.which a ‘subspecies, IMO 
thompsont, comes within our limits. 
(103) Neosuthora davidiana thompsoni. 
THOMPSON’S SUTHORA. 
Suthora thompsont Bingham, Buil. B. O. C., xiii, p. 68 (1903) (Kyat- 
pyin, Shan States). 
Vernacular names. None recorded. 
Description. Top and sides of the head bright cinnamon-rufous ; 
hind neck, back and rump pale slate-grey, more or less washed 
with olive ; wings and tail grey-brown, the quills edged with bright 
rufescent brown : chin and throat black ; breast grey tinged with 
buff, more especially on the centre ; flanks, abdomen and lower 
tail-coverts clear brownish ochraceous: 
Colours of soft parts. Bill fleshy horny; irides hazel; legs 
plumbeous grey. 
Measurements. Total length about 95 to 100 mm.; wing 
50 to 52 mm.; tail 36 to 88 mm. 
Distribution. Southern Shan States. 
Nidification and Habits. Not recorded. 
TZ 
