( gay) 
bigger marks. One has some respect for a bird which has success- 
fully foiled all comers searching for its nest. | Nipalensis is 54 inches 
in length. Plumage of this little Quaker-Thrush, above, is olive- 
brown on the back, wings and tail; ashy colored about the head ; 
it has a dark line over the eyes; underparts are whitish with a 
reddish brown tinge; chin white; bill light yellow ; irides light in 
colour (whitish). The next few birds are scarcely within scope of 
this enquiry, nevertheless a fairly connected narrative of bird life 
in general, appears advisable, showing an obvious affinity between 
the groups. Species may be introduced, casually, to give a conve- 
nient gradation to the commoner birds met with in and around 
Darjeeling. Wren-Babblers, though interesting groups in themselves, 
are chiefly birds of the plains. A few of them ascend to our eleva- 
tion. Most of these Babblers frequent dense undergrowth in the 
forests, and are seldom seen above 4,000 feet elevation. One or 
two species are found on the Singalillas in summer. 
GENUS STACHYRIS, Wren-Babblers 
Are often found associating freely with some of the hard billed 
Flowerpeckers, either Pyrrhowra (629) or Palpebrosus (631) at a 
lower elevation, or jlammiceps (633) near Darjeeling, and some of 
the tits and their associates on the Singalillas. Bill of birds belong- 
ing to this genus, is longish, straight, compressed, inclined to be 
conical in shape, scarcely notched and tip shghtly bent; tail shorter 
than the previous bird, and showing a tendency to be graduated ; 
tarsus stout and longish; front toes nearly equal; claws curved ; 
hind toe and claw large; head crested with stiff plumes. 
(391) STACHYRIS NIGRICEPS, Black-throated Wren-Babbler. This 
species 1s occasionally met with in Darjeeling, whilst on its way 
to Tongloo, or similar altitudes in Sikkim; but it is not com- 
mon here. These birds appears to congregate in bigger numbers 
at a much lower altitude in winter, where they can be more 
frequently observed. Like members of the 7imalinw, nigriceps is 
arboreal in habits and is seldom found on the land, low bushy 
jungles are its favorite resorts, and feeds on insects. It is 53 
inches; wings are short and rounded ; crest usually prominent and 
shows out conspicuously. Plumage is olive-brown above; head 
brownish black; crown whitish; a white streak reaching to lower 
mandibles ; throat black with traces of white; beneath pale in 
colour, with a reddish tinge. This bird constructs a big oval nest 
of bamboo leaves and fibres. Eggs are pure white and glossy. 
(394) STACHYRIS CHRYS.RA, Golden-headed IWren-Babbler, is 
found at a lower clevation also Ruficeps (393) both these birds 
ave similar in habits to the former species. In plumage Chrysaea 
