SIBIA. 295 
b'. The two outer pairs only of tail-feathers 
graduated (2 ise oiinsae =e tock ae aen Siva, p. 312. 
a. Tail square and not graduated. 
c’. Bill slender, gently curved and both 
mandibles of the same length ........ Yuuina, p. 316. 
d’. Bill stout and straight, the upper man- 
dible longer than the lower one, with 
the tip bent down. 
e. Depth of bill at nostrils less than 
NRO yonooooad) oonpboogoemono” IxuLvs, p. 321. 
d'', Depth of bill at nostrils more than 
Drea Cte rete te ts ecrarsierere= sisrs' «+ 8 ERpornis, p. 324. 
Genus SIBIA Hodgson, 1836. / 
The genus Stbia contains but one species, which is remarkable 
for the extraordinary length of its tail, which is twice as long as 
the wing and greatly graduated. 
The bill is shorter than the head, slender and curved, and the 
nostrils are covered by a large membrane. The rictal bristles are 
moderate in length. The bill is similar to that of Letoptila, figured 
below. 
(310) Sibia picaoides picaoides. 
Tur LONG-TAILED S1BIA. 
Sibia picaoides Hodgs., J.A.S.B., viii, p. 58 (1839) (Nepal) ; Blanf. 
& Oates, 1, p. 195. 
Vernacular names. J/atcheo-pho (Lepcha). 
Description. Whole upper plumage, wings and tail deep slaty- 
brown, the tail tipped with white and the wings with a white patch 
formed by a spot on each outer web of four of the secondaries ; 
forehead and lores blackish; throat and breast slaty-brown ; 
remainder of lower plumage ashy-grey, becoming albescent on the 
abdomen. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris red or crimson, occasionally brown ; 
bill black or horny-black ; legs dusky grey, claws horny-black. 
Measurements. I'otal length about 340 mm.; wing 120 to 
125mm. ; tail about 210 to 220 mm.; tarsus about 30 mm.; 
culmen about 24mm. 
Distribution. Nepal and Sikkim to Assam North and South 
of the Brahmaputra; Chin Hills, Kachin Hills, Shan States and 
Karenni to Tenasserim. 
Nidification. A nest taken by Mr. H. Stevens in Sikkim at 
about 8,000 feet elevation, where this Sibia was common and no 
others were present, was assuredly of this bird though the owner 
of it was not shot. It was a compact nest made entirely of moss, 
lined with moss roots and was placed at the end of the branch of 
a pine-tree. The one egg it. contained measured 245x183 mm. 
and is exactly like those of Letoptila gracilis, described further on. 
