STACHYRTS. 265 



whistle. It is purely insectivorous, finding its food in the lower 

 cover and but seldom descending to the ground. 



(271) Stachyris nigriceps caltarti. 

 THE ASSAM BLACK-THROATED BABBLER. 



Stachi/ris nigriceps coUarti Harington, Bull. B. 0. C., xxxiii, p. Gl 

 (1913) (Margherita). 



Vernacular names. Duo-riapliong (Cachari). 



Description. Differs from S. n. nit/riceps in having no white 

 -edges to the feathers of the chin and throat. 



Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in that bird. 



Distribution. Assam south of the Brahmaputra, Western 

 Burma and Bhamo Hills, South to Tenasserim but not including 

 that state. Birds from the Southern Shan States are intermediate 

 between this and the next form but nearer the latter. 



Nidiflcation and Habits as in the Sikkim bird but keeping to 

 lower levels. It is more common below 3,000 feet than above 

 this height. Two hundred eggs average 19'1 x 14*7 mm. 



(272) Stachyris nigriceps davisoni. 

 THE MALAY GREY-THROATED BABBLER. 



Stachyris davisoni Sharpe, Bnll. B. O.C., i, p. 7 (1892) (Pahang). 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Differs from the two preceding forms in having the 

 throat ashy-grey ; the ear-coverts are hair-brown and the upper 

 plumage is suffused with rufous. 



Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in S. n. nigriceps. 



Distribution. S. Tenasserim, Peninsular Siam and Malay Penin- 

 sula. Birds from the Eastern Burmese hills as far North as 

 Karenni are also of this race as are those from the Shan States. 



Nidification and Habits differ in no way from those of the 

 preceding forms. The eggs average about 19-2 x 14-8 mm. 



(273) Stachyris chryssea chrysaea. 

 THE NEPAL GOLDEN-HEADED BABBLER. 



Stachyris chryscea Blyth, J. A. S. B., xiii, p. 379 (1844) (Nepal) ; 

 Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 163. 



Vernacular names. Syalc-birang-pho (Lepcha). 



Description. Forehead golden-yellow ; crown and nape the 

 same streaked with black ; lores and a short moustachial streak 

 black; ear-coverts oil-yellow ; upper parts, sides of neck and ex- 

 posed parts of wings bright olive-yellow; tail brown washed with 

 yellow on the outer webs; entire lower plumage bright yellow. 



