150 LIST OF BIRDS IN MANIPUR, 



at the same instant. They affect thick-miogled grass and 

 thorny bush, hedges, low scrub jungle, in which I have re- 

 peatedly seen a pair in company with a huge gabbling pack of 

 Garrulax galhanus, and also long reed grass, especially where 

 this is interspersed with bushes. 



This bird has never been properly described. Jerdon's de- 

 scription {Ihis, 1872, 302) is very poor, and some of his 

 dimensions absurd. He gives the tarsus 13"16, it is 1'25 to 

 1-4; bill from gape 6'8, it is 1'2 to 1*4; then the con- 

 spicuous spots on the lower parts are dusky ash to almost 

 black, not one bit the colour, or in the least like the colour, of 

 the upper parts. Godwin-Austen's description is better, but 

 quite insufficient ; there may be other allied species that his 

 description would equally cover, and both he and Jerdon 

 entirely ignore the most conspicuous feature in the bird, which 

 fixes its place in the genus, viz., the large, bare, dusky-leaden 

 patch below, and extending more than 0'5 behind, the eye. 



Godwin-Austen remarks that birds from the Naga hills 

 have a longer bill, and the spottings on the breast are darker 

 and occasionally form a demi-collar, but I do not think 

 there is anything in this. I have a very large series of the 

 bird from various localities, and though everywhere the speci- 

 mens are excessively variable, I see no local peculiarities. 



The following are exact particulars of this species : — 



In most specimens the legs and feet are a pale drab brown, 

 but in a good many a faint fleshy tinge is appai-ent, and in 

 one or two they are a full drab ; soles always yellowish. The 

 bill is most commonly a pale horny grey, or greenish horny, 

 or pale drab, dusky about the nares and more or less of the 

 base of the upper or both mandibles. Rarely the whole upper 

 mandible is dark or dusky brown. The irides are very pale 

 yellow, or yellowish (rarely salmon) white. The orbital skin 

 and bare eye-patch vary from leaden dusky to blackish dusky. 

 More or less of the forehead, and feathers near the nares, 

 a more or less pronounced rusty rufous. The lores and a 

 more or less broad band under the eye varying from greyish 

 to pure white. A short moustachial stripe varying much in 

 length and breadth, from the base of lower mandible, black- 

 ish or dusky brown. Ear-coverts ferruginous, darker or paler, 



