326 TIMALIID2, 
these cases the same individual egg gives the extremes in breadth 
and length. 
Habits very like those of Jwulus but Hrpornis seems to keep 
much to the tops of very high trees. In the non-breeding season 
it is not usually found in heavy forest but prefers the ‘aer out- 
skirts of big forests or the smaller forests which generally fill the 
ravines and pockets in the grass-lands. It was common in 
the thin deciduous forest in the North of the N. Cachar Hills, 
where we found it in small parties diligently hunting the smaller 
branches and twigs for insects. It is a very silent bird and I have 
not heard its note. 
Subfamily LIOTRICHINA. 
This subfamily contains a number of genera the placing of 
many of which is a matter of no little difficulty. Since Oates 
wrote the first volume of the first edition of the Avifauna we 
have learnt a good deal which has enabled us to eliminate several 
genera which are obviously non-Timaliine, but further examination 
of material anatomically may assist us to place yet others in more 
suitable positions than ‘the present. 
Of the 16 genera included by Oates in his Liotrichine, the 
following five have been removed to other families. Jrena is now 
placed in Oberholser’s new Family Zrentde ; Melanochlora has been 
transferred to the ‘Titmouses, Paride ; Leptopecile and Cephalo- 
pyrus have been included in the Legulide, whilst Psaraglossa is 
a true Starling and will be found in the Sturnide. 
Of the remaining genera there are still some whose position is 
especially doubtful. Cutia and Pteruthius have, it has been sug- 
gested, many aflinities with the Campephagide and Harington 
claims that their nidification also proves this ; to me, however, stke 
nidification seems to point strongly to a position somewhere near 
Fuhina, Ivulus ete. and, for the present, the reasons for their 
retention in the subfamily seem greater than for their rejection. 
The position of Myzornis. is problematical, and careful 
examination of pterylosis and anatomy and a correct knowledge 
of its breeding habits are urgently required. Chloropsis is in the 
same group as Aethorhynchus and dAtgithina and seems to be in 
many ways intermediate between the Vimaliide and Pyenonotide, 
the fact that the sexes differ seeming to determine their position 
in the former rather than the latter. Aypocolius is a very curious 
bird with a very short first primary and may eventually have 
to be placed in a “family by itselr. 
The subfamily as now restricted differs from the previous sub- 
families of the Vimaliide and from the Pycnonotide in having the 
sexes differing in coloration; the young are very like the adults 
but rather duller ; the wing and tail are generally not greatly 
different in length ; the tet primary, w ith the exception of 
Hypocolius, is about half the length of the second; the wing is 
fairly rounded but longer and more pointed than in the precedine 
