PYCTORHIS. 233 



Genus PYCTORHIS Hodgson, 1844. 



This genus is peculiar to India, Burma and Siam and, if one 

 includes Moupinia pcecilotis Verreaux, to China. 



It is characterized by a very short, deep bill without a notch 

 and with oval and exposed nostrils ; the tail is long and well 

 graduated, the outermost feathers being about half the length of 

 the central ones. 



This genus was very well worked out by Harington, with whose 

 conclusions I am in complete accord, but yet another geographical 

 race named by Ticehurst must be added to the number. 



Key to Species and Subspecies. 



A. Bill black; forehead plain rufous. 

 . Nostrils yellow. 



a'. Upper parts paler P. sinensis sinensis, p. 233. 



V '. Upper parts darker and richer P. s. saturatior, p. 234. 



b. Nostrils black P. s. nasalis, p. 235. 



B. Bill yellowish brown ; forehead blackish 



with grey margins. 



c. Upper plumage reddish brown. [p. 235. 

 c'. Chin, throat and upper breast whitish P. altirostris altirostris, 

 d'. Chin, throat and upper breast grey . . P. a. griseigularis, p. 236. 



d. Upper plumage earthy-brown, chin and 



throat white P. a. scindicus, p. 237. 



Fig. 42. Head of P. s. sinensis. 



(234) Pyctorhis sinensis sinensis. 

 THE INDIAN YELLOW-EYED BABBLES. 



Parus sinensis, Gmel., S. N., i, p. 1012 (1788) (Sina) (China). 

 Pyctorhis sinensis. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 137. 



Vernacular names. Gal-chasm or Bulal-cliasm (Hind., South) ; 

 Bara-podna (Hind., N.W.P.) ; Terra Kali-iitta (Tel.). 



Description. Whole upper plumage, ear-coverts and sides of 

 the neck rufesceut brown, changing to cinnamon on the exposed 

 parts of the wing-quills ; lores, a short eyebrow, the eyelids, chin, 

 throat, cheeks and breast pure white; abdomen, vent, flanks 

 and under tail- coverts pale fulvous ; tail faintly cross-rayed. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris pale lemon-yellow to brightest golden ; 



