SIVA. 3 
streak behind the oe white; back, scapulars, wing-coverts, rump 
and upper tail-coverts bright ochraceous ; the median pair of tail- 
feathers wholly blue with a subterminal black patch and white tip ; 
the next four pairs with the outer webs blue, the inner brown 
margined with white, with the black patch and white tip; the 
outermost feather black on the outer, white on the inner web; 
primary-coverts black; winglet cobalt-blue, tipped white; primaries 
cobalt-blue on the outer webs ; ; outer Rccondaniss margined with 
pale blue and tipped white ; inner secondaries blackish on the 
inner and bluish-grey on the outer webs, tipped white; ear-coverts, 
cheeks, sides of the neck, chin and throat, breast and sides of the 
body delicate vinous-grey ; middle of abdomen pale yellowish buff ; 
vent and under tail-coverts white. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris brown; bill horny-grey, brownish 
about the nostrils and with the base of the lower mandible 
yellowish ; feet fleshy-brown or flesh-colour. 
Measurements. Total length about 150 to 155 mm,; wing 
62 to 70 mm.; tail 63 to 70 mm.; tarsus about 25 mm.; culmen 
12to13 mm. Birds from the Himalayas are rather larger than 
those South of the Brahmaputra, having wings 65 to 70 mm. as 
against 62 to 64mm, in the southern birds. 
Distribution. Himalayas from Naini-Tal to E. Assam, North and 
South of the Brahmaputra, Manipur, Lushai, Chittagong Hill 
tracts and Chin Hills. 
Nidification. The Blue-winged Siva builds’a nest which is a 
small, neat edition of that of Letothria lutea; i.e. it is a small cup 
made of leaves, grasses, moss and roots, lined with very fine roots 
and fine grasses, usually of a very dark colour. The majority of 
nests are found low down in bushes only a few feet from the ground 
but others may be taken higher up in trees. Wherever it is plac ‘ed, 
however, it 1s sure to be well hidden, unlike that of Leiothrix w hich 
is well exposed to view. The eggs vary from two to four, often 
two only, and are like those of Siva strigu/a; im shape they are 
very regular ovals and 24 eggs measure on an average 18°4 x 141mm. 
The breeding season 1s May and June. 
Habits. This Siva may be found anywhere between 3,000 and 
8,000 feet but is most common and breeds freely between 4,000 
and 6,000 feet. They consort in flocks and feed both on the 
higher trees and in amongst the brushwood and seem particularly 
fond of the tangles of raspberr: y and blackberry vines so common 
throughout their haunts. They fly well and fairly quickly. 
* (336) Siva cyanouroptera wingatei. 
THe Yunnan BLUE-WINGED Siva. 
Stva wingater Ogilvie-Grant, Bull. B. O. C., x, p. 38 (1906) 
( E. Yunnan). 
Vernacular names. Ching-tong-wu-lee (Kachin). 
