266 TIMALIIDA. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris golden-brown or light brown; bill 
dark slaty-horn above, paler below ; legs and feet pale yellowish- 
brown to greenish-brown. 
Measurements. ‘Total length about 112 to 115 mm.; wing 
about 48 to 51 mm.; tail about 50 mm. ; tarsus about 18 tol19 mm. ; 
culmen about 12 mm. ' 
Distribution. Nepal, Sikkim to Assam, N. Chin Hills and 
Manipur to Kachin Hills. 
Nidification. This pretty little Babbler makes a nest which is a 
small, neat facsimile of that of the last species but which is some- 
times placed in bushes or, more often, bamboo clumps a few inches 
to a couple of feet from the ground. It is generally domed but 
cup-shaped nests may be found when placed in positions where 
there is cover overhead as in a thick clump of bamboo. It breeds 
principally above 3,000 feet during May, June and July, laying 
four eggs which are normally pure white but rarely a faintly 
spotted egg may be found somewhat like those of the next genus. 
The surface is close and has a fair gloss and the shell is compara- 
tively harder than that of the Black-throated Babbler. Sixty eggs 
average 15-4 x 12:1 mm. 
Habits. The Golden-headed Babbler collects in the winter in 
quite large flocks numbering sometimes as many as 40. They keep 
to the bushes and undergrowth in damp tree-forest, seldom if 
ever descending to the ground but perpetually on the move on 
wing or feet as they scramble or flit from one twig to another in 
search of their insect food. The entire time the whole flock keeps 
up a constant soft, low twittering which rises to shriller and louder 
notes of expostulation when disturbed. They do not mind being 
watched and I have often sat for some minutes within a few feet 
of a flock before they took their departure. In the breeding 
season the flocks break up and the birds frequent bamboo and 
secondary jungle as well as forest. It is found up to at least 
6,000 feet. 
(274) Stachyris chrysea binghami. 
Tue Cuty Hints GoLrpEN-HEADED BABBLER. 
Stachyris binghami Rippon, Bull. B. O.C., xiv, p. 84 (1904) (Mt. 
Victoria). 
Vernacular names. None recorded. 
Description. Differs from the last bird in having the upper 
parts ashy olive-green; the lower parts dull orange-yellow and 
the ear-coverts slaty-green. 
Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the last bird. 
Distribution. Central and 8. Chin Hills and N. Arrakan. 
Nidification unknown. 
Habits not recorded. 
