MICROTAKSUS. 425 



insects and I have shot specimens feeding on the cotton-trees 

 over-full of such obtained from their great red flowers. 



In most flocks of this birds one or more specimens will be 

 found of the Grey-bellied Bulbul. 



(440) Microtarsus melanocephalus fusciflavescens. 

 THE ANDAMAN BLACK-HEADED BULBUL. 



Si-achy podius fusciflavescens Hume, S.F.,i, p. 297 (1873) (Andamans). 

 Micropus fusciflavescens. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 295. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Differs from the preceding bird in having the 

 whole head dusky olive-green ; the -black on chin and throat is 

 confined to the centre of the latter ; the black bars are narrower 

 and the abdomen and under tail-coverts are a still brighter yellow. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris bluish-white to pale blue ; bill bluish- 

 slate to slaty -black ; legs and feet plumbeous. 



Measurements as in the preceding bird. 



Nidification unknown. 



Habits. Davison found it singly or in pairs on the outskirts of 

 forest, edges of jungle-tracts and natural openings. 



(441) Microtarsus poiocephalus. 



THE GREY-HEADED BTJLBUL. 



Brachypus poiocephalus Jerdon, Madr. J. L. S., x, p. 246 (1830) 



(Travancore). 

 Micropus phceocephalus. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 296. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Forehead olive-yellow; chin blackish; cheeks 

 greyish yellow ; remainder of head clear bluish grey ; upper side 

 of neck, back and scapulars olive-green ; rump- feathers black 

 with broad yellow tips ; upper tail-coverts and four middle tail- 

 feathers bluish grey with dark shafts, the others black, broadly 

 edged on both webs and tipped with bluish grey, the basal two- 

 thirds of all suffused with olive-green ; wings black, all the 

 feathers edged with olive-green, the outer webs of the innermost 

 secondaries being wholly of this colour; breast, abdomen and 

 flanks oil-yellow; under tail-coverts bluish grey. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris almost white to blue ; bill pale slate, 

 "pale green" (Davison); legs and feet fleshy tinged with orange 

 (Davisoit). 



Measurements. Eather smaller than M. melanocephalus ; wing 

 about 73 to 78 mm. 



Distribution. Malabar coast ; from Belgaum to South Travan- 

 core ; Coonoor and Wynaad Hills. 



Nidification. The Grey-headed Bulbul makes a small, compact 

 cup-shaped nest, which it places in low bushes in fairly dense 

 jungle. The eggs are like those of M. m. melanocephalus and ten 



