1874.] BIRDS FROM THE NAGi HILLS. 47 



Malacocercus (Layardia) rubiginosus, n. sp. 



Description. — Above rich rusty brown, darker on the head, with 

 black shafts to feathers ; wings and tail of same colour, the latter 

 distinctly barred ; lores white, beneath pale rufescent, nearly white 

 under chin, and pale on centre of abdomen. 



Bill black, well curved ; legs pale corneous or dull grey brown ; 

 hides nearly white. 



Length 9'5 inches, wing 30, tail 4*8, tarsus 1-16, bill. at front 0'62. 



I first shot tbis bird in long grass near the Logtak Lake, Munipiir, 

 and again obtained specimens near Kaibi in the same valley. It is 

 essentially a grass-bird, with all the habits of M. terricolor, Hodgson. 

 They associate about a dozen together, flying through the grass one 

 after the other in a scattered line, never abiding long in one place. 



By the kind assistance of R. B. Sharpe, Esq., of the British 

 Museum, I have been able to examine a near ally of this bird 

 marked Malacocercus subrufus, from Malabar, which is not so 

 intensely rufous, has no white on the throat, is greyish on the head, 

 and has a yellow lower mandible. 



Prinia rufula, n. sp. 



Description.— Above, the head ashy brown, becoming more russet 

 on back and pale rufous on rump and upper tail-coverts ; tail brown, 

 indistinctly barred, tipped white on the outer tail-feathers, with a 

 subterminal dark spot ; wing dark brown, with pale rusty brown 

 edgings to primaries and secondaries; lores, round eye and ear- 

 coverts pale ashy ; below chin sullied white, greyer white on breast ; 

 ochraceous on abdomen ; flanks and thighs pale brown. 



Bill black, both above and below ; legs pale corneous, with darker 

 claws ; irides ruddy ochre. 



Length 475 inches, wing 1*82, tail 2-4, tarsus 075, bill at front 0-4. 



This species was common in the Nsiga Hills and Munipiir, and 

 replaces P. hodgsoni, Blyth, on the Khasi-Hills side. It is quite 

 distinct from P. gracilis, which has a marked rufous forehead, and 

 can be distinguished at a glance from the former bird, which is 

 remarkably ashy, with dark ear-coverts. 



ClSTICOLA MUNIPURENSIS, n. Sp. 



Description.— Above dark umber-brown, feathers margined pale 

 ochre on head, broader and more rufous on back ; upper tail-coverts 

 plain rufous brown ; the feathers on nape are paler rufous and dark 

 shafting subdued; tail dark umber, the two centre feathers mar- 

 gined rufous brown, viewed from below tipped whitish, with sub- 

 terminal dark spots ; white on chin, throat, and centre of abdomen 

 rufescent on breast and flanks. Pale round eye. 



Bill black above, pale beneath ; legs fleshy brown. 



Length 4-25 inches, wing2-0, tail 1*65, tarsus076, bill at front 040. 



I obtained four specimens of this species in the reedy sides of the 

 Logtak Lake, Munipur valley. It differs on comparison with C. 

 schcenicola, Bouap., and C. ruficollis, Walden, which I also obtained, 

 and is intermediate iu coloration, and may be known at once by 



