PYCNONOTUS. 419 



(434) Pycnonotus plumosus plumosus. 

 TUB LAKGE OLIVE BULBUL. 



Pycnonotus plumosus Blyth, J. A. S.B., xiv, p. 567 (1845) (Singa- 

 pore) ; Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 292. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Forehead and crown dark greyish brown, each 

 feather margined with olive-green ; wings and tail dark brown, 

 the outer webs of the feathers washed with bright olive-green ; 

 lores dark brown ; cheeks and chin dull vvhity-brown ; ear-coverts 

 dark brown with silvery-white shafts ; lower plumage ashy- 

 brown, slightly mottled and streaked with dull ochraceous : 

 under wing- and tail-coverts and edge of wing brighter oehra- 

 ceous. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris burnt sienna-brown to dark cinnabar- 

 red ; bill almost black ; legs and feet reddish brown, darker in 

 some, paler in others (Hume). 



Measurements. Length about 100 to 200 mm. : wing 78 to 

 89 mm. : tail about 84 mm. ; tarsus about 19 to 20 mm. ; culnien 

 about 15 to 16 mm. 



Distribution. It is extremely difficult to define the boundaries 

 between this bird and the next, P. p. robinsoni. It appears that 

 the present bird is found in the South of the Malay Peninsula in 

 Johore, Pahang, Perak, Keda and thence up the West coast of 

 Teuasserim as far North as Teuasserim Town and also in Sumatra 

 and Borneo, whilst Eobinsou's Bulbul works North from Patani 

 up the East coast. 



Nidification. Nests taken by Davison, Kellow and Waterstradt 

 were of the ordinary Bulbul type built low down in bushes generally 

 in thin forest, sometimes in fairly dense forest but not, apparently, 

 in cultivated and village areas. The eggs are two or three in 

 number, most often the former, and one clutch in the Waterstradt 

 collection was a five, but this must be quite exceptional. The 

 eggs are like those of the rest of the genus and it is doubtful it' 

 any of these can be distinguished from one another except, 

 perhaps, by size. Ten eggs average about 22'0xl7'7 mm. but 

 Davison's eggs seem to be abnormally big. Six of my own only 

 measure 21-8 x 16'1 mm. 



This specus breeds in February, March and April. 



Habits. This Bulbul is a bird of forests rather than of open 

 country and Mr. Kellow informed me that he took the nests in 

 almost impenetrable cane-brakes along streams in virgin forest. 

 They are quite unobtrusive birds, keeping to the lower trees and 

 bushes and having a chirping chatter, according to Davisou, like 

 that of Criniyer. They feed chiefly on berries. 



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