i4^ 



308 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 



^X* that the difference on which he relies to separate kumii from 

 the true superciliosus is not due merely to the dryness or 

 humidity of the localities in which the specimens were obtain- 

 ed. Mr. Hume very justly points out that the colours of 

 many birds are much deeper in specimens from Sikim than in 

 examples of the same species found in the dry North-West ; 

 and in the course of these notes I have often remarked on the 

 darker hue of many species obtained in Nepal as compared 

 with birds from the Western Himalayas. But then, when this 

 difference in tint obtains, the Nepal birds quite resemble Sikim 

 ones ; whereas in the case of this Pht/lloscopus my specimens 

 differ conspicuously from examples procured at Darjeeling. 

 The meridian of the valley of Nepal is probably nearly the 

 eastern limit of R. humii, as seems to be also the case with 

 reference to Palceornis nipalensis, Falaornis purpiireus, Musoi- 

 peta paradin, Budynamis honorata, &c., which are replaced in 

 Sikim by allied forms. 



But granting that, as a matter of convenience, the Brown- 

 headed Willow Warbler should have a name to distinguish it 

 from superciliosus. It seems still doubtful whether Mr. Brooks' 

 name of humii will stand ; it would be strange, considering the 

 long list of synonyms of which Phylloscopus superciliosus can 

 boast, if no author has previously managed to hit the brown- 

 headed form. Phyllopneuste reguloides of Hodgson should cer- 

 tainly have grazed it, if not inornatus of Blyth. y' 



This species is very common in the valley of Nepal in win- 

 ter from October to nearly the end of April. It is by far the 

 most abundant species of Fhylloscopus found in the valley, and 

 it frequents the central woods and the forests at the foot of the 

 hills. It is generally found in pairs or small parties, on trees 

 or sometimes in thorny rose hedges, and is very lively, active 

 and noisy. 



Reguloides humii, Var. 



Male, Valley, SOth October. — Length, 4*0 ; expanse, 6-6 ; 

 wing, 2'2 ; tail, 1*7 ; tarsus, 0"66 ; bill from gape, 0-5 ; bill at 

 front, 0'33 ; closed wings short of tail, 0'7. 



Bill brownish dusky, yellow horny at base of lower mandible ; 

 irides dark brown ; feet dusky. 



This specimen precisely resembles R. Jiumii, Brooks, but has 

 the outer tail feather on each side pure white ; the fourth quill 

 is longest, and the tarsus is rather shorter than in my specimens 

 of humii. Mr. Hume has a specimen of humii which shows a 

 good deal of white about the head, thus showing that a partial 

 albinism is occasionally found in the species. My bird has the 

 white symmetrical and recalling the coloration of the tail fea^ 



