SCHOIXIPARTJS. 285 



completely domed, egg-shaped affair measuring about 7 to 8 inches 

 high by about 5 to 6 inches broad. The full complement of eggs 

 is three or four but sometimes two only are laid. The eggs are 

 like those of the last bird and two hundred average 20-8 x 

 15-6 mm. ; the maxima are 22'0xl6'0 and 19-5 x 16'1 mm., and 

 minima 19'4 X 15'3 and 20'7 X 15'0 mm. 



Habits. During the winter the Assam Tit- Babbler collects in 

 small flocks of halt'-a-dozen to a dozen individuals, haunting forest 

 with ample undergrowth and to a less extent bamboo-jungle and 

 scrub. It is most common from 3,000'feet upwards and is found 

 up to at least, 6,000 feet and possibly a good deal higher. It is a 

 restless, energetic little bird feeding partly on the ground, partly 

 on the low bushes and trees, constantly changing its position and 

 now and then fluttering from one perch to another as well as 

 scrambling and hopping through the cover. Whilst engaged in 

 feeding they utter a constant " chir-r-r-r " alternating with a sharp 

 " chit." In the breeding season their habits alter greatly and they 

 become shy, retiring little birds, and instead of being able to watch 

 them minutes at a time all one sees of them is a small brown 

 object slipping out of sight into cover when disturbed. 



(299) Schceniparus dubius genestieri. 

 RIPPOX'S TIT-BABBLER. 



Aleippe genestieri Oustalet, Bull. Mus. d'Hist. Nat., Paris, iii, p. 210 

 (1897) (Tsekao). 



Vernacular names. Prep-dor (Kachin). 



Description. Differs from S. d. dubius in having the forehead 

 pale rufous ; the crown is golden-brown with very faint dark edges 

 to the feathers ; the upper plumage is olive-brown and the sides 

 of the neck are not streaked. 



Colours of soft parts as in S. d. dubius. 



Measurements. Wing 58 to 61 mm. ; tail about 60 mm. ; tarsus 

 21 mm.; culmen 11 mm. 



Distribution. Kachin and Bhamo Hills, Yunnan, Shan States 

 and S.W. China. 



Rothschild has shown (Nov. Zool. xxviii, p. 36) that intermedius 

 is not separable from yenestieri and with this I agree, but the former 

 sometimes has quite plain indications of the neck-stripes as in 

 mandellii and as we should expect in that part of its range nearest 

 that race. 



Nidification. Kesernbles that of the last bird. Harington, 

 Grant and others took many nests in March, April and May 

 between 4,000 and 6,000 feet. The eggs are indistinguishable 

 from those oF the last two birds and measure about 19'9 x 15'5 mm. 



Habits differ in no way from those of the Assam Tit-Babbler. 



