GAMPSORHrNCHUS. 231 



The habits, which are now well known, agree well with those 

 of the more arboreal Timaliidce, but their nidification would seem 

 to link them with the genus Vblvocivora and its allies. Its 

 position is extremely doubtful, but for the present I retain the 

 genus in the position given it by Gates. 



Fig. 41. Head of G. r. rufulus. 



Grampsorhynchus rufulus. 



Key to Subspecies. 



A. Upper plumage golden-brown G.r. rufulus, p. 231. 



B. Upper plumage rufous-brown G.r. torquatus, p. 232. 



(232) Gampsorhynchus rufulus rufulus. 

 THE WHITE-HEADED SHEIKE-BABBLEK. 



Gampsorhynchus rufulus Blyth, J. A. S. B., xiii, p. 371 (1844) (Dar- 

 jiliDg) ; Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 135. 



Vernacular names. Cliongto-pTiep-pJio (Lepcha) ; DaopTilantu- 

 tiba (Cachari). 



Description. The whole head, neck and breast white ; rictal 

 bristles black and white in front, pure white behind ; upper 

 plumage, tail and wings golden brown ; lower and median coverts 

 and edge of wing white ; quills dark brown ; tail edged interiorly 

 and tipped with yellowish buff; lower plumage pale fulvous. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris pale lemon-white to deep golden 

 yellow ; bill pale fleshy-horny, darker at base and on culmen ; 

 legs reddish brown. 



Measurements. Total length about 250 to 260 mm. ; wing 90 to 

 100 mm. ; tail 110 to 120 mm. ; tarsus about 26 to 28 mm. ; culmen 

 about 20 to 21 mm. 



The young bird has the white of the head and breast replaced 

 with light chestnut, the fulvous of the abdomen extending on to 

 the lower breast ; there is no white on the wing and the upper 

 parts are more rufous. 



The adult plumage probabb takes two years for completion, as 

 the male has been found breeding in semi-mature dress. 



Distribution. The lower hills of Sikkim and Bhutan, Assam 

 North and South of the Brahmaputra, Chin Hills and Arrakan. 



