242 NOTES UPON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS MADE 



Ilorornis. Horeites may be described as a small slender-billed 

 Horornis. Structurally, the two genera are very much alike. 



H. pallidus was met with above Danguli, and was common 

 at Sulci, frequenting the dense thickets on the hill side there. 

 It is seldom seen, and can only be found by its most peculiar 

 whistle. There is a considerable pause between this whistle 

 and the second strain of the song, which latter is not a whistle 

 but a sort of chattering warble, ending with an abrupt turn. 

 Between the whole song and its repetition, thei'e is a longer 

 pause, and if disturbed the bird is silent for some time. 



536.— Prinia gracilis, Franklin. 



Common in the lower parts of the valley, as far as Moneri. 

 The forehead is generally covered with the red pollen of a 

 jungle-flowering bush. 



537.— Prinia cinereocapilla, Hodgson. 



This bird was not uncommon near Dhunda, but was not seen 

 beyond Barahath. It may be known by its very dark lead 

 grey cap, and the generally very rufous tone of the back and 

 ■wino-s. Its song is quite different from that of any other Prinia 



than 6th ; 3rd equal to 8th : 2nd very short, and -48 short of tip of wing. The rictal 

 bristles are distinct and almost -22 inch long. The bill has a very faint notch at the 

 end like that of Horeites brunneifrons." 



"Dumeticola. majok. — Similar to D. affinis, Hodgson, but much larger; measur- 

 ing from 6 inches to 63 inches ; wing, 2 28 to'2 - 3 ; tail, 2 7 ; bill at front, - 55 ; from gape, 

 •75 to - 8 ; tarsus, "87 ; mid toe and claw, - 72 ; hind toe and claw, '6 ; tail excessively gra- 

 duated, the outer feathers being 112 inch shorter than the central ones. The bill is 

 long and compressed at the sides, generally quite black, but sometimes dark brown, with 

 the lower mandible pale, except towai-ds tip. Legs and feet pale flesh colour, with the 

 claws a trifle darker. Irides dark brown ; lores whitish. A cream coloured supercilium. 

 Cheeks whitish, finely mottled with light brown. Chin, throat, and upper breast pure 

 "White, finely spotted with dark brown on the breast. These spots are confined to the 

 breast, and in some specimens they are faint or entirely wanting. Centre of belly and 

 abdomen white ; sides of breast and flanks shaded with olive brown ; under tail-coverts 

 pale brown, each feather being broadly bordered with dull white. Whole upper surface 

 dark dull olive brown, the crown of the head being conspicuously the darkest. Prima- 

 ries, secondaries, and tertials, also wing coverts with the edges of the feathers, rather 

 rufescent. Lining of wing white, with a few small brown markings towards ridge 

 of wing ; the tail feathers are obsoletely cross-rayed. 



" The longer, straighter, and stronger bill, and the differently formed wing, with 

 tolerably large 1st primary, separate this bird from true Locustella. The upper sur- 

 face is also devoid of streaks. I obtained several specimens. It ranges from 6,000 

 feet upwards, even to 10,000 feet elevation, and frequents exclusively places where the 

 ground cover is abundant. It is seldom seen. The song is strictly that of a Locus- 

 tella, similar to that of L. Rayi, but slower and louder. By beating the cover where 

 I heard the birds, I was enabled to get an occasional snap shot, and thus secured my 

 specimens. They were all males. 



" For the sake of comparision, I give Mr. Hodgson's dimensions of 4 specimens of 

 Dumeticola a /Jin is as recorded on the drawing of the bird. 



Tip of bill' to tip of tail ... ... ... ... 5| 6| 5 5 



Bill to gape ... ... ... ... ... T » ff j% ,»„ f 



Tail ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 2i 2 2 



Closed wing... ... ... ... ... ... 2| 2 T : V 2| 2\ 



Tarsus to sole ... ... ... ... ... | {% \% £ 



Central toe and nail ... ... ... ... ... f \\ \\ fj 



Hind do. do. ... ... ... ... ... $i A 7 9 o A. 



"The bill of the Cashmere bird is nearly one quarter of an inch longer. The tail 

 and total length are also much longer." 



