YUHIXA. 319 



Measurements. Total length about 165 ram. ; wing about 74 to 

 77 mm. ; tail about 74 mm. ; tarsus about 24 mm. ; culrnen about 

 36 to 17 mm. 



This bird only differs from Y. d, diademata in being darker 

 throughout and in having the breast and sides of the head more 

 grey. 



Distribution. Yunnan and Kachin Hills. 



Nidification. Breeds in the Bhamo Hills in April and May, 

 making a flimsy, almost transparent cup of black roots with a few 

 scraps of bracken, well plastered with cobwebs and lined with fine 

 black roots and fern-rachides. They are invariably placed low down 

 in brambles, bracken or coarse grass and measure outwardly about 

 4" by 2|" deep. The eggs are two in number, very rarely three, 

 and are long ovals in shape, the ground-colour a dull greenish blue 

 with profuse blotches and specks all over of umber-brown. 

 Twenty-two eggs average 20-5x14-9 mm. 



Habits. A common bird in the Bhamo Hills, going about in small 

 flocks in higher saplings and trees. Harington says " They are 

 very Tit-like in their habits and notes, continually raising the crest 

 and so revealing the conspicuous white patch at the back of the 

 head." They seem to be found between 4,500 and 7,000 feet. 



Fig. 58. Head of Y. o. occipitalis. 



(342) Yuhina occipitalis occipitalis. 



Yuhina occipitalis Hodgs., As. Res., xix, p. 166 (1836) (Nepal) ; 

 Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 1>12. 



Vernacular names. Ttirinying-pho (Lepcha). 



Description. Forehead and crest slaty-grey with whitish shaft- 

 streaks, posterior feathers of crest and nape chestnut ; hind neck 

 ashy ; upper plumage rufous-brown ; the wings and tail brown, 

 the outer webs of the feathers suffused and margined with rufous- 

 brown ; a circle of white feathers round the eye ; ear-coverts and 

 the region of the eye slaty -grey, streaked whitish ; a narrow 

 interrupted black moustachial streak ; chin, throat, breast and 

 sides of neck vinous ; sides of the abdomen rusty-grey, centre pale 

 chestnut ; thighs, vent and under tail-coverts bright chestnut ; 

 under wing-coverts and edge of wing white. 



