HEMIXUS. 375 



green on the basal half of the outer webs ; greater coverts brown 

 on the inner and olive-yellow on the outer webs ; quills brown, 

 the earlier primaries edged with grey below the einarginations ; 

 all the other quills margined with olive-yellow, very narrow on 

 the outermost and increasing until it covers the whole of the 

 outer webs of the innermost secondaries ; lores and cheeks 

 blackish ; ear-coverts bronze-grey ; chin, throat, centre of the 

 abdomen, vent and under tail-coverts white; breast, sides of 

 neck and flanks grey. 



Fig. 75. Head of Hemixusfl. flavala. 



Colours of soft parts. Irides dull crimson or reddish brown ; 

 bill black ; the legs vary much between horny-brown and dark 

 plumbeous, in a few specimens being almost black. 



Measurements. Length about 210 mm.; wing 94 to 99 mm.; 

 tail about 86 mm. ; tarsus about 18 mm. ; culmen about 15 mm. 



The female is, as usual, a little smaller ; wing about 90 to 96 mm. 



In the young the crown is very dark, showing up as a distinct 

 cap. 



Distribution. Himalayas from Mussoorie to Eastern Assam, 

 N. Chin Hills, Kachin Hills to Yunnan. South Assam, Manipur, 

 Chittagong Hill tracts and Arrakan. 



Nidification. This Bulbul breeds at elevations between 3,000 

 and 6,000 feet in scrub-jungle and the dense secondary growth on 

 deserted cultivation, or occasionally in the undergrowth of forests. 

 It is very partial to the banks of tiny streams such as are dry 

 during the winter but form rapid little water-courses during the 

 rains. The nest is a rather deep cup, composed outwardly of grass 

 stems only. Sometimes a few bamboo leaves, a twig or two and 

 some roots may be added to the other materials, but it is curious 

 that whatever the article chosen it is nearly always yellow, tan, 

 or pale brown in colour. Externally the nests roughly average 

 about 3-5" X 2-5" and they are nearly always placed close to 

 the ground, somewhere between 2 and 5 feet from it, and well 

 hidden in a thick bush or dense mass of brambles or creepers. 

 Nests may be found any time from early May to late July. 



The eggs are either two or three in number, rarely four, and 

 vary in ground-colour from pearly-white to pale salmon. They 

 are profusely covered all over with specks and spots of light 

 pinkish red to a reddish brown. In shape they are rather long, 



