OTOCOMPSA. 277 



greatest length in Burma and the Malay peninsula, and it is also 

 brighter in those countries. Throughout the Himalayas, in Mani- 

 pur, and in China the tuft is of an intensely deep crimson, but it 

 varies in length considerably, some birds having it quite as long as 

 others from Pegu. It unfortunately happens that the tuft springs 

 from the lower eyelid, and its length is therefore in some measure 

 subject to variation as a result of the manner in which the head 

 has been prepared ; it is even quite possible for a careless taxidermist 

 to perforate the lower eyelid and to cause the eye to appear sur- 

 rounded by red feathers, as was apparently the case in some 

 specimens which passed through Mr. Hume's hands (S. F. i, p. 309), 

 but which are no longer in his collection. 



The terminal spots on the tail-feathers are generally found on 

 the outer four pairs, but it is not uncommon to find them on the 

 next pair as well, but in a reduced form. 



Distribution. The lower ranges of the Himalayas from Simla to 

 the head of the Assam valley ; Oudh ; the whole of Bengal, Orissa, 

 and the Northern Circars ; the eastern portion of Chutia Nagpur ; 

 Assam and all the hill-ranges and States lying to the south 

 through Burma to the extreme southern point of Tenasserim ; 

 Karennee ; the Andamans ; the Nicobars, where these birds have 

 been introduced. The species extends into China, Siam, and the 

 Malay peninsula. 



Habits, $c. This lively Bulbul is a familiar bird, being more 

 frequently seen in gardens than elsewhere. It breeds from 

 February to May or June, constructing a rather solid cup-shaped 

 nest of twigs and leaves in bushes, creepers, and tangled thickets. 

 The eggs, usually three in number, are pinkish white marked with 

 various shades of red, and measure -83 by *63. 



289. Otocompsa fuscicaudata. The Southern Red-whiskered Bulbul. 



Otocompsa fuscicaudata, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1865, p. G64 ; Stanford, 

 J. A. S. B. xxxviii, pt. ii, p. 178 ; Hume, J. A. S. B. xxxix, pt. ii, 

 p. 117; id. N. $ E. p. 288; Butler, S. F. iii, p. 473; Fairbank, 

 S. F. iv, p. 258 ; Hume, S. F. iv, p. 458 ; Fairbank, S. F. v, p. 405; 

 Davids. $ Wend. S. F. vii, p. 82 ; Hume, Cat. no. 460 bis ; Vidal, 

 S. F. ix, p. 64 ; Butler, S. F. ix, p. 402 ; Davison, S. F. x, p. 386 ; 

 Taylor, S. F. x, p. 460 ; Terr?/, S.F.x, p. 476 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. 

 p. 187 ; Gates in Hume's N. # E. 2nd ed. i, p. 180. 



Otocompsa jocosa (-.), McMaster, J. A. S. B. xl, pt. ii, p. 212. 



Otocompsa erneria (L.), S/iarpe, Cat. B. M. vi, p. 159. 



Phari-bulbul, Hind. ; Turaka piyli-pitta, Tel. 



Coloration. Resembles 0. emeria. Differs in having no white 

 tips to the tail-feathers, and in having the crescentic pectoral band 

 either entire or only very slightly interrupted in the centre. 



Of the same size as 0. emeria. 



On examining the large series of this bird in the British Museum, 

 I find that specimens from Belgaum and the country north of it 

 up to Abu have the pectoral band interrupted, and that those from 

 localities south of Belgaum have it entire in almost all cases. 



