HENICURUS. 69 



British Burmah it is spread abundantly wherever there is thick jungle. It is 

 said to be almost always solitary, to perch low on branches, and to secure prey 

 from off the ground. It is a charming songster, and its song, according to 

 Jerdon, is chiefly heard in the evening, just before and after sunset. He says 

 it is a most gushing melody of great power, surpassed by no Indian bird. It 

 is caught and caged, and in confinement imitates the song of other birds. 

 The Shama breeds in April and May. Mr. Hume gives an account of Mr. 

 Davison's finds of two nests in April and May at Shymootee, and on the road 

 to Meeta Myo in Tenasserim. The nests were found in holes of old stumps 

 of trees. The eggs, four in number, are said to be moderately broad ovals, a 

 good deal compressed towards the small end, and exhibiting a slight pyriform 

 tendency ; the shell is fine and compact, and has a slight gloss, The ground 

 colour is a dull greenish stone colour, everywhere densely freckled with a rich 

 raw sienna brown and dull purplish markings, Bize 0*87 to 0-89 x O-6 

 to 0-62. 



499. Cittocincla albiventris (Biytk), Sharps, Cat. B. Br. Mus f 



vii. p. 90. Kittacincla albiventris, J9 lyth, J. A. S. B. xxvii. p. 269; Ball, 

 Sir. F. 1873, p. 73; Hume, op. cit. 1874, p. 232; Walden, Ibis, 1873, 

 p. 307. Cercotrichas albiventris, Hume, Str. F. 1879, p. 99. The WHITE^ 

 BELLIED SHAMA. 



Above, including the wings, throat and upper breast, glossy purplish black ; 

 four central tail feathers black, the rest black at the base, and white terminally ; 

 under surface of body white ; the undertail coverts and flanks pale chestnut ; 

 underwing coverts white. Bill black ; legs pale fleshy. 



Length. 8*75 inches; wing 3*6; tail 4/5 ; tarsus 1*05 ; culmen O'6. 

 Hal. South Andamans 



GroUp.HENICURI, 



The Birds comprising this group are essentially Timeliinse, and have habits 

 in common with the Wagtails, which they resemble also in plumage. They live 

 almost entirely on the ground, run along it like the Wagtails by sudden jerking, 

 short movements, and feed like them on insects. They breed on the 

 ground or on ledges of rocks, and always in close proximity to water. They 

 are, however, distinguished from the Wagtails by their rounded wings and 

 smaller tertials, more Cinclinae bill, and more slender body, as well as by their 

 long and forked tail. 



Gen. HeniCUrug. Tern. 



Bill moderate or long, straight, stout; the culmen strongly keeled, the 

 gonys inclining upwards ; nostrils apert ; gape with 2 3 stiff bristles ; wings 

 rounded, the 1st quill small, the 4th and $th subequal and longest ; tail long 

 and forked; tarsus long and entire; feet moderate. 



