ASSAM, SYLHET AND CACHAR, 255 



645.— Parus nipalensis, Eodgs. 



This, too, though generally diffused in Manipur, alike in 

 hills and plains, was very scarce. I first saw it at Kalanaga, 

 then on the Limatol range, both these in the Western hills. 

 Then near the capital and again at Sagam, both in the basin, 

 and then near Kangoee on the Eastern hills, but I saw it 

 on no other occasion. 



A female measured : — 



Length, 5-8 ; expanse, 8-7 ; tail, 2-55 ; wing, 2*82 ; tarsus, 

 069 ; bill from gape, 0"52 ; weight, 0"6oz. Legs and feet bluish 

 leaden ; claws darker ; bill blackish brown, horny white at tip 

 and edges ; irides dark brown, 



I have this from many localities in the Dibrugarh district, 

 where it seems to be very common, and Godwin-Austen gives 

 it from the bases of the Garo hills, and includes it in his 

 Dafla hill list, but beyond this I know nothing of its distri- 

 bution in Assam, Sylhet or Cachar. 



[Common in Dibrugarh, where it frequents gardens, hedges, 

 villages, but not noticed in very heavy forest. The natives 

 say they are very destructive to the " Mooga " (Anthercea, 

 Assama, Heli) silkworm, when these are reared in the jungles 

 in a semi- wild condition. 



Tarsus. Bill from gape. Weight. 



060 0-51 0-50 oz. 



0'65 0-54 0-.50 „ 



0-60 0-46 35 „ 



0-70 050 050 „ 



Bill black ; legs plumbeous, deeper on the feet. 



They breed in holes in trees at no great height, even as 

 low down as 30 inches from the ground. The in sides of the holes 

 are lined with dry leaves, goat's and cow's hair, and fibres. By 

 the middle of May fully-fledged young are to be found. On 

 two occasions I found five young in each nest. Assamese 

 call them " Bhudder-Koolee.^'— J. R. C.] 



This species occurs in Northern Pegu, and is common in 

 the tidal jungle about Elephant Point, &c., below Rangoon, 

 and we obtained a single specimen in the mangrove swamps 

 south of Thatone, but never saw it elsewhere in Tenasserim, 

 and that is all I yet know of its distribution in British 

 Burmah. 



649.™Machlolophus spilonotus, Bly. 



Very common on the higher portions of the Manipur hills, 

 alike the Eastern and the Western, as on the Limatol range, 

 Aimole, Matchi and Tankool Hoondoong. 



