60 TIMELIID^E. 



the bases of some of the feathers of the side of the neck white, forming a 

 half concealed white patch ; wings black, edged with blue ; tail feathers black, 

 the basal portion of the outer web white ; middle feathers entirely black. 



The female is dull rufous brown, the wings edged brighter and the throat, 

 cheeks and foreneck mottled with grey ; the tail has similar white patches as in 

 the male. 



Bill, legs and feet black ; irides deep brown. 



Length. 6-5 to 7 inches ; wing 3-45 to 3*8 ; tail 3 to 3*45 ; tarsus 1-05 to 

 I -I ; culmen 0*7. 



]j a b. The Himalayas, ranging into the Khasia and Burmese hills as far south 

 as Tenasserim, at elevations of 3,500 feet and upwards. It has been procured 

 on the Mooleyit and Karenne hills ; and has occurred in the Khasia hills, 

 whence it extends along the Himalayas as far as Sikkim to Mussoorie. 

 Jerdon says it frequents dense underwood or very thick forest, perches low 

 and seeks its food chiefly on the ground, which, according to Jerdon and 

 Gates, is insects. Hodgson says that it feeds equally on pulpy berries. 

 Wherever found this species appears to be resident. According to Hodgson 

 it breeds in the central regions of Nepaul during the months of April and 

 May, making its nest on some ledge of rock, more or less sheltered by grasses 

 or bushes. The nest is a deep massive cup composed of mosses or of 

 moss roots. Four eggs are said to be laid, and these are figured as moderately 

 broad ovals, much pointed towards one end, measuring 0-9 x 0*65 inch, 

 and of an uniform mottled or curdled pinkish clay colour. (Hume.) Mr. 

 Hume also records a nest with two eggs taken by Mr. Gammie near 

 Darjeeling at an elevation of about 4,000 feet. These eggs, Mr. Hume 

 describes as uniform, very pale salmon pink, entirely devoid of all regular 

 markings, though, if examined in a very bright light, they appear to be 

 excessively faintly freckled all over with the palest possible grey, which is 

 absolutely invisible unless looked very closely into. The eggs measure 

 O'9S x 0-69 and 0-91 x 0-69. 



Gen. Brachypteryx. Horsf. 



Bill of moderate length, straight, slightly curved at the tip ; a tuft of bristles 

 at the base of the nostrils ; wings short, rounded ; 4th, 5th, and 6th quills 

 longest ; tail short ; tarsus long. 



488. BrachypteryX Crural is, Hodgs. Icon. ined. in Br. Mus. App. 

 pi. 73 ; Blytk, J. A. S. B. xvi. p. 136; Jerd. and Bly., P. Z. S. 1861, p. 201 ; 

 Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 495, No. 338 ; Hume, Nesis and Eggs, Ind. B. p. 2 19 ; Wald 

 in Bly., B. Burm. p. 99; Hume, Str. F. viii. p. 93 ; Gates, B. Br. Burm* i. 

 p. 19 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. vii. p. 26. Calliope cruralis, Bly., J. A. S. 

 B. xii. p. 933. Larvivora cruralis, Bp. Consp. i. p. 301. Brachypteryx 

 hyperythra, Godw-Aust. (nee. Jerd. and Bly.) t J. A. S. B. xxxix. p. 192 

 (1870 tette G. A in lift.). The WHITE-BROWED SHORT- WING. 



