402 



season, whilst in the breeding season it keeps to heights between 

 4,000 and 7,000 feet. They collect in flocks of a dozen or more 

 individuals in winter, feeding both on the higher trees and in the 

 bushes and undergrowth. Their food consists of insects of all 

 kinds, but largely small beetles, seeds and some soft fruits such as 

 ihe various Fid. In the stomachs of some specimens killed in 

 ]S". Cacbar were numerous tiny fragments of quartz. In the 

 breeding season they seem to desert the higher trees and to keep 

 to the lower jungle. Their notes are those of the family but full, 

 soft and sweet and easily distinguishable from those of their 

 nearest relations. They fly well but are not very active or quick, 

 on their feet. 



Genus TRACHYCOMUS Cabanis, 1851. 



This genus is represented by a single species of large size, 

 striated plumage and peculiar structure. It has no crest but the 

 crown is covered with dense, bristly, decomposed feathers of a 

 yellow colour. The tarsus is remarkably strong, with a few 

 scutellatious in front and sometimes quite smooth. The bill is 

 short, being about half the length of the head, the rictal bristles 

 are strong and the nuchal hairs short. The wing is comparatively 

 short and rounded and the tail-feathers well graduated. 



The peculiar structure of the feathers of the crown and its large 

 size will suffice to separate this Bulbul from all others. 



Fig. 81. Head of T.oclirocephalus. 



(417) Trachycomus ochrocephalus. 

 THE YELLOW-CEO WTS*ED BULBTIL. 



Turdus ocrocephalus Gmel., S. N., i, p. 821 (1788) (Ceylon and Java). 

 Trachycomus ochrocephalus. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 281. 



Vernacular names. Burong-baran-baran (Malay). 



Description. Forehead, crowu, a patch under the eye, branching 

 out into two streaks, one extending partially over the ear-coverts 

 and one under, straw-yellow ; ear-coverts brown with white 

 shafts ; lores and cheeks black, divided by a yellowish streak ; 

 upper plumage and lesser wing-coverts ashy-brown dashed with 

 green, all the feathers, except those of the rump, with conspicuous 



