92 PAEIU^.. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris deep brown ; bill black ; legs aud 

 feet clear light slaty blue or lavender-blue. 



Measurements. Length about 130 mm. ; wing 69 to 73 mm. ; 

 tail about 58 mm. ; tarsus about 20 mm. ; eulinen about 10 mm. 



The young differ from the adult in having the black mostly 

 replaced with greenish brown and the crown the same colour as 

 the back. 



Distribution. Murree to Nepal and Sikkim. The many birds 

 recorded as xanthogenys from various places south of the 

 Himalayas are all the next bird as far as can be now ascertained. 



Nidification. Similar to that of M. s. spilonolus. The average 

 of thirty eggs is 17'7xl3'l mm. 



Habits. This Tit is found between 4,000 and 7,000 feet in 

 summer and does not seem to work much lower in winter. In 

 its habits generally it differs little from the Black-spotted Yellow- 

 Tits. Its call, flight and feeding-habits are all described as 

 similar. 



(76) Machlolophus xanthogenys aplonotus. 

 THE SOTJTHEBN YELLOW-CHEEKED TIT. 



Parus aplonotus Blyth, J.A.S.B., xvi, p. 444 (1847) (Mts. of 



Central India). 

 Machlolophus haplonotus. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 56. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Differs from the northern bird in having the 

 wing-coverts tipped with white instead of yellow and in having 

 the green and yellow portions of the plumage dull instead of 

 bright. In this bird also the line over the ear-coverts only 

 extends to the corner of the eye and not over it. 



Colours of soft parts and measurements as in the Northern 

 Yellow-cheeked Tit. A careful examination of the big series in 

 the British Museum does not show that there is any difference in 

 size between the Northern and Southern races in spite of Oates's 

 opinion to the contrary. 



Distribution. Throughout the Peninsula of India South of a 

 line drawn from Abu to Paresnath in Chota Nagpur, up to 

 elevations of about 6,000 feet. This Tit does not appear to be 

 found East of Paresnath or West of Abu. 



Nidification. Similar to that of the Northern race. The 

 average of thirty eggs is about 17'4xl3'9 mm. They are not 

 distinguishable from those of the last bird. It is said to breed 

 from May to September. 



Habits. Is found during the breeding season between 2,000 

 and 6,000 feet, wandering higher than this in the Nilgiris and 

 coming down to the level of the plains, especially in winter. 

 There is nothing special recorded about its habits. 



