ASSAM; SYLHET AND CACHAR. 73 



inner webs of all but the first three quills being white, often for 

 an instant catches the eye in the dim light of the thick under- 

 growth as the bird, previously invisible, starts off. 

 Three measured in detail : — 



Length. Expanse. Tail. Wing. Tarsus. Bill from gape. Weiaht, 



^ 9-6 13-2 49 4 4 073 095 lOBJoz. 



9 9 3 12-6 5-0 4 35 7 0-95 0-96 ok 



? 9-2 123 47 4-3 7 0'97 10 oz. 



The male, a perfect adult, had the legs and feet dingy 

 yellow ; the claws dark brown ; bill dark brown ; inside of 

 mouth orange red ; irides orange red. 



The first female, with slight traces of nonage, had the legs 

 and feet dingy greyish yellow ; bill brown, yellow at gape and 

 base of lower mandible ; edges of eyelids yellow ; irides 

 orange. 



The second female, quite a young bird, entirely in the hepatic 

 plumage, had the legs and feet dingy yellow ; the claws brown ; 

 the bill black, dull yellow at gape and base of lower mandible ; 

 and the irides yellowish white. 



Of some adult males I have noted the irides as ruby red ; 

 of two young ones as pale brown. 



The first female and another male are in an interesting stage 

 of plumage. Almost the entire plumage is that of the perfect 

 adult, only all the secondaries (not the tertiaries) and their 

 greater coverts (not a single other feather anywhere) are 

 brown, barred with red. 



In S. F. Vol. VI, p. 158, I explained that threnodes of 

 Cabanis, though averaging smaller, was not specifically separ- 

 able from rufiventris, Jerdon. Taking a dozen adult males from 

 Manipur I find the wings vary from 4-2 to 4-65. I have Singa- 

 pore specimens with wings over 4-2. 



This species is very common in Sylhet and Cachar from 

 the low-lying Sukhai, which is probably not much above 50 feet 

 above sea_ level (if as much), to over 3,000 feet in the North 

 Cachar hills. It is common too throughout the valley of 

 Assam* up to our easternmost outpost. I do not think it 



* [Cacomantis threnodes is very common in the Dibrugarh district Fifteen 

 specimens suxed and measured, of which eight were females. I give meaaure- 

 meuts of the largest and smallest birds :— 



I'ength. Expanse. Tail. Wing. Tartu*, mil from gape. WeioM. 



S ... 9-70 12-50 510 4oO 70 98 I'lO oz 



<y ... 8-70 12-25 4-50 445 0'70 095 10 oz* 



S ... 9 50 12'50 5-20 4 60 0-70 094 1 10 oz* 



? ... 9-10 13-20 4-60 4-45 0-75 98 1-25 oz.* 



Irides light brown, brownish red and red. Several planters call it the Indian 

 Kigotiogale!— J, R. C] 



10 



