150 CRATEKOPODID^E. 



each feather edged with black; remainder of upper plumage, tail, 

 and exposed parts of wings plain olive-brown ; tertiaries tipped 

 with white. 



What appear to be the young of the year have the crown, fore- 

 head, nape, and back olive-brown, margined with black ; rump, 

 upper tail-coverts, tail, and exposed parts of wings plain olive- 

 brown ; sides of the forehead aud an indistinct supercilium greyish 



Fig. 42. Head of G. crispifrons. 



white with blackish specks ; ear-coverts dark brown, with white 

 shafts ; chin, throat, and upper breast white streaked with dark 

 brown, the streaks being nearly confluent on the breast ; remainder 

 of lower plumage ochraceous olive-brown. They appear to undergo 

 no moult the first autumn, but to retain the young plumage till 

 the first spring, when the change towards adult plumage probably 

 begins by the chin and throat becoming white. 



Iris pale red, red, light red, deep red-brown ; upper mandible 

 dark brown, lower pale plumbeous ; legs, feet, and claws dark 

 purplish brown (Hume Coll.}. 



Length about 8 ; tail 3 ; wing 3*2 ; tarsus 1*1 ; bill from gape '9. 



The above description of the plumage has been taken from a 

 series of 76 specimens in the Hume Collection. Unfortunately 

 the birds were all procured in December and March, with the excep- 

 tion of one shot in November and six in January. The series is 

 therefore very incomplete, and it is quite impossible to arrive at 

 any conclusion regarding the plumage of the young and its gradual 

 development into that of the adult. The plumage is very perplex- 

 ing and incomprehensible at present. Hume's note on the subject 

 should be carefully read. 



Distribution. The limestone ranges of the central portion of 

 Tenasserim, such as those at Wimpong, the Thoungsha Gyue river, 

 and Momenzeik. 



Habits, $c. Davison remarks that this bird is excessively lively 

 and sprightly. It keeps up continually a twittering chattering note, 

 and sometimes will perch itself on some point of rock and with 

 lowered wings and erected tail will pour forth a fine and powerful 

 song. It feeds principally upon insects and land-shells. 



Genus MALACOPTERUM, Eyton, 1830. 



The genus Malacopterum is remarkable for its lengthened wings 

 and, in consequence, its comparatively short tail. The plumage is 



