390 KYCJiONOTIDjE. 



with white; lower plumage pale earthy-brown, whitish on the ab- 

 domen; lower tail-coverts bright sulphur-yellow; edge of wing white. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris brown or hazel ; bill black ; legs and 

 feet brown to blackish brown, occasionally with a plumbeous shade. 



Measurements. Length about 200 mm.; wing 80 to 93 mm. ; tail 

 about 85 mm.; tarsus about 20 mm. ; culmen about 14 to 16 mm. 



Distribution. The Himalayas from Afghanistan and the extreme 

 North- West to Bhutan and the hills of Assam, North of the 

 Brahmaputra as far East as the Dihang llixer, whence I have had 

 specimens sent me for identification. 



Nidification. The White-cheeked Bulbul breeds from May to 

 July at all heights from 2,500 to 7,000 feet, making a nest very 

 similar to that of the Ked-vented birds but generally less solid and 

 well-built and decidedly smaller. It is made of the usual materials, 

 grass, leaves, line twigs and steins of plants mixed with odd scraps 

 of moss, lichen and roots and lined either witli fine roots or grass. 

 It is placed low down in a bush or small tree, seldom more than 

 5 or 6 feet above the ground and sometimes within a foot of 

 it. The site selected may be either in a garden or a compound or 

 in light jungle and low scrub. 



The eggs are similar to those of the List species but, perhaps, 

 average longer in shape and duller in tint and markings. 100 

 average 21-6x16-1 mm. and the extremes in length and breadth 

 are 24'6 x 16-8, 24'0 x 18'0 and 19*0 x 15'2 mm. The full clutch 

 is either three or four eggs, more often the former. 



Habits. Though found constantly wherever there are villages 

 and cultivation, this Bulbul is occasionally found haunting nullahs 

 and ravines which are comparatively well-wooded. This is 

 especially the case round about Mussoorie. It is found at all 

 heights from 2,500 up to 7,500 feet and even higher than this 

 near Simla, where Mr. P. Dodsworth took many nests. 



Fig. 78.-Head of M. I. leucotis. 



(406) Molpastes leucogenys leucotis. 

 THE WHITE-EAREU BULB PL. 



Ixos leucotis Gould, P. Z. S., 1836, p. 6 (India orientali) (restricted 



to Punjab). 

 Molpastes leucotis. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 273. 



Vernacular names. Kanydhara (Beng.) ; KusJiandra or Kun- 

 shanbra (Punjab) ; Bhooroo (Sind). 



