336 TIMALIID®, 
The female has the crown the same grey as the forehead, and 
there are no traces of black or blackish on the face. 
Distribution. Nepal, Sikkim and Hills North of the Brahma- 
putra. 
Nidification. Nests and eggs sent me by Mr. D. Macdonald and 
Mr. W. P. Masson with the parent birds are exactly like those of 
the next form, nor can the eggs be distinguished from those 
of that bird. They measure about 19°3 x 14°8 mm. 
Habits. This is a quiet, rather retiring bird, but cannot be called 
shy as it does not mind being watched. It keeps to the tops of 
the higher trees in deep forest and is so slow and unobtrusive in 
its habits that it does not attract attention and its low, rather 
pleasant, call-notes cannot be heard at any distance. It is not 
gregarious, being generally found in pairs, and feeds on small 
insects and small berries and seeds. 
(359) Pteruthius xanthochloris occidentalis. 
Tur Srmta GREEN SHRIKE-BABBLER. 
Pteruthius vanthochloris occidentalis Harington, Bull. B, O. C., xxxiii, 
p. 82 (1913) (Dehra Dun). 
Vernacular names. None recorded. 
Description. Male. Differs from the last in having the crown 
and nape ash-grey instead of blackish and the whole plumage is 
somewhat paler and less vivid. The female differs in having the 
head greenish with a wash of grey. 
Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the last. 
Distribution. N.W. Himalayas from the Sutlej} Valley to 
Garhwal and, possibly, W. Nepal. 
Nidification. Nests taken by Osmaston and Rattray are 
described as deep cradles of root-fibres and lichen, bound together 
with cobwebs, lined with the gs black roots and rhizomorph of 
a fungus and attached to smal! forks in the outer branches of 
spruce or deodar. They apparently breed from April to July at 
elevations between 5 4000 and 9,000 feet and lay two to four eggs, 
These are meinen of those of P. erythropterus and ten eggs 
average about 19-4 x 14°6 mm. 
Habits. Practically nothing recorded. It keeps much to heavy 
tree-forest in pairs or solitary, frequenting the higher branches, 
where it attraets no attention either by voice or its quiet 
movements. 
Genus HILAROCICHLA Oates, 1889. 
The genus Hilarocichla was created by Oates for a species very 
close to Pteruthius but differing in its much longer tail. This is 
equal to the wing in length and is greatly oraduated, the outer- 
most feather being about one-third less than the central ones, In 
other respects Ailarocichla and Pteruthius are alike. 
