THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR,. 196 
extremely little in size, in length between °62" and °66", and in breadth 
from *50" to °55". I have nospecimens with bright reddish spots, all 
being of the paler type. 
The nests were taken on the following dates :—29th April, 1890, 
female, three eggs quite fresh ; 19th May, 1890, female, four eggs 
slightly incubated; 25th May, 1890, male, two eggs fresh. The 
eggs of the second nest have not been included in the average given 
above. 
A nest with four fully-fledged young were brought to me on the 21st 
of May, 1890. In habits I do not know of any trait that it exhibits 
which is unlike S.rujiceps. It is much rarer and I think also more shy 
in its habits. As I have only observed it during the breeding season, 
it has always been in low scrub or bamboo jungle. At other times it is 
sure to feed, like others of this genus, on trees, 
(67) MixorNIs RUBRICAPILLUS.—The Yellow-breasted Babbler. 
Oates, No. 176 ; Hume, No. 395. 
This bird sometimes lays unspotted white eggs. Ihave once taken 
a nest myself with such eggs, and on another occasion I took three 
eggs,which were so faintly marked that it was difficult to make the specks 
out at all. Another nest, with three white eggs, was also sent me in 
1891 from Jellalpur by Mr. H. A. Hole. The hen-bird was also sent 
with the eggs, and there could have been no mistake about their identity. 
I have observed this bird feeding on the ground in the bamboo jungle, 
and, though it is the only time I have seen it so feeding, it is sufficient 
to prove that it does do so now and then. I have far more often noticed 
it in bamboo jungle than in tree forest. It does not seem to ascend the 
hills to any height, and I have not often met with it over two thousand 
feet, it being most common quite at the foot of the mountains or on the 
very low grass and bamboo-covered hills. 
(68) ScH@NIPARUS MANDELLU.—Mandelli’s Tit Babbler. 
Oates, No. 179 ; Hume, No. 622. 
This handsome little bird is not uncommon in the east of the North 
Cachar Hills, and what I have observed of its habits agrees with Hume’s 
remarks on the subject. I have found about a dozen nests, all placed 
on the ground, amongst the roots of herbaceous plants with the 
exception of two, which were placed amongst ekra and were from 
