ASSAM, SYLHET AND CACHAR. 143 



396.— Timalia bengalensis, G.-Aust. 



It seems still doubtful whether this is really distinct from 

 T. pileata, Horsf. 



I never met with this anywhere in either the Western or 

 Eastern hills, hut throughout the basin wherever 1 went, even 

 in the enclosures of the houses and hedges of the capital, it 

 was abundant, sometimes in pairs, sometimes in small parties, 

 but for all that seldom showing itself unless disturbed, as a 

 rule threading its way through the heart of the grass and scrub 

 forming the fence. But as soon as you begin to beat this for 

 anything else you are sure to catch glimpses of this darting 

 through the thinner places. Wherever there is high reed 

 grass near water there this bird is sure to be, but clinging 

 so persistently to the centres of the huge tufts 12 or 14 feet 

 high and 6 to 8 feet in diameter, that you may be a long time 

 before you even catch a glimpse of one and much longer 

 before you shoot and retrieve one. 



These birds vary very much in size. I ought to have measured 

 a lot, but somehow never found the time. The two I did measure 

 give however some idea of this variation, though both were 

 apparently adult males. 



Legs, feet and claws of the first a rather dark brown, of the 

 second the tarsi were brown, feet and claws paler and greyer ; 

 soles yellowish ; bill jet black ; irides in one reddish brown, 

 in the second claret colour. 



The red cap varies from a clear light, almost brick red, to 

 almost maroon. 



This species I have from all parts of the valley of Assam 

 and many places in Sylhet and Cachar. I have never re- 

 ceived it from the hills, and do not think it occurs at any 

 considerable elevation, but Godwin-Austen seems to have got 

 it in the Khasi hills (perhaps in one of the low valleys 

 running into these), and he includes it in his Dafla hill 

 list, which, however, includes many species from the country 

 below the bases of these. 



[Pretty common in Dibrugarh in suitable localities. Any 

 stretch of swamp reedy ground, even if enclosed by forest, 

 generally harboured a pair or two of these birds. On the grassy 

 churs of the Brahmaputra river they were even noticed. — 

 J. R G.] 



