194 CRATE110POD1D7E. 



and rather musical note from time to time as it bops from bough to 

 bough. Blauford describes the note as sharp and monotonous. 

 Accounts of the nidification of this species are conflicting, and 

 therefore I shall not quote them. 



Subfamily SIBLING. 



The subfamily Sibiince is represented in India by thirty-two 

 species of birds. These all agree in being strictly arboreal, in having 

 the sexes alike in plumage and size, and in being non-migratory. 

 Their plumage is in most cases bright, and they are more or less 

 found in flocks. 



With few exceptions the Sibiince lay spotted eggs. The few 

 exceptions require further evidence, as the information on the 

 subject of their nidification is either insufficient or conflicting. 

 The species of Zosterops lay eggs which are sometimes plain and 

 sometimes marked, and the position of this genus requires more 

 investigation. As remarked in another place. Zosterops is included 

 in this subfamily provisionally, as no better place can at present be 

 found for it. It, however, agrees in all essential characters with 

 the Sibiince. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Tail nearly twice the length of wing SIBIA, p. 195. 



b. Tail and wing not very different in length. 

 a'. Tail graduated. 



a". All the feathers of the tail graduated. 

 a'". Tail longer than wing 1 , the outer tail- 

 feather falling short of tip of tail by a 

 distance equal to length of tarsus. 

 a 4 . Depth of bill at the nostrils less than 



breadth ; wings not barred LIOPTILA, 195. 



b. Depth of bill at the nostrils greater 



than breadth ; wings barred ACTINODURA, p. 201. 



b'". Tail equal to or shorter than wing ; 



the outer tail-feather falling- short of 



tip of tail by a distance less than length 



of tarsus. 



c*. Nostrils not overhung by hairs ; 



wings barred IXOPS, p. 203. 



d l . Nostrils overhung- by hairs ; wing-s 



not barred -. STAPHIDIA, p. 205. 



b". The four middle pairs of tail-feathers of 

 the same length ; the two outer pairs only 



graduated SIVA, p. 207. 



b'. Tail square, not graduated. 



c". Bill slender, gently curved, both mandibles 



of the same length. 

 c'". First primary equal in length to the 



tarsus .* YUHINA, p. 211 . 



d'". First primary extremely minute, not 



longer than the hind toe ZOSTEROPS, p. 213. 



