NOTES ON INDIAN TIMELIIDES AND THEIR ALLIES. 59 



Description as in Gates, F. B. I. 



Disti'ibution. — Yunnan and the Kachin Hills, East of Bhamo. 



I found it a very common little bird at Sinlum in the Bhamo Hills. 

 During the cold weather it goes about in large family parties, haunting 

 bushes and trees ; in the breeding season it retires to long grass and rushes 

 where it builds its nest. This is a compact little cup, which is placed near 

 the ground. The eggs, generally three in number, are pale, spotless blue and 

 measure ■64x'52 inches. 



SUTHOKA FULVIFRONS, HodgSOn. 



The fulvous-fronted Farrot-billed Babbler. 



Suthora fulvifrons, Hodgson, J.A.S.B., xiv, p.579 (1845) ; Gates, F.B.I.,i, 



p. 66. 

 Chleuasicus fulvifrons, Sharpe, Cat. B. M., vii, p. 494. 

 Description as in Gates, F. B. 1. 



Distribution. — Nepal and Sikhim. Nothing appears to be known of this 

 species, which is quite distinct from the *S'. poliotis group. 



Suthora rxjficeps bupiceps, Blyth. 

 BlytJi's Parrot-billed Babbler. 



Chleuasicus rujiceps, Blyth, J. A. S.B., xiv, p. 578 (1845); Sharpe, , Cat. 

 B. M., vii., p. 494. 



Suthora ruficeps, Gates, F. B. I., i, p. 67. 



Suthora oatesi, Sharpe, "Hand List" iv, p. 70, 1903. 



Description as in Gates, F. B. I. 



'' This bird is almost an exact counterpart of P. rujieeps ruficeps differing 

 from it chiefly in its blunter bill and more graduated tail." 



Dr. Sharpe proposes the name of oatesi, for this species to save 

 confusion with its very near ally, P. r. ruficeps ; both are extremely alike 

 and the similarity of names is very liable to cause mistakes, and therefore 1 

 think it should be adopted. 



Distribution. — Sikhim. 



SUTHOEA RUFICEPS ATRISUPERCILIARIS, Grodwiu-Austen. 



Austen's Parrot-billed Babbler. 



Chleuasicus atrisuperciliaris, Godw. Aust., P. A. S. B., 1877, p. 147. 



Suthora atrisuperciliaris, Gates, F.B.I., :., p. 67; Baker, J. A. S. B., viii, 

 p. 167 ; id., Ibis, 1895, p. 45. 



Description as in Gates, F. B. I. 



I have only been able to examine two very poor specimens of this sub- 

 species, which appear to be very similar to ;S'. r. ruficeps. 



Dr. Hartert in a letter says : " I have restricted ruficeps to Sikhim, after 

 examining one specimen only, and I have made atrosuperciliaris to occur in 

 Cachar, Margherita, Sadiya, Ponsee (Yunnan Frontier) accepting that it differs 

 from S. ruficeps ruficeps, by a small black spot above the eye, and quite 

 rufescent cream under plumage. 



Wing 70-74 mm. We have specimens from N. Cachar, Dibrugarh and 

 Margherita (Assam). 



Stuart Baker has taken the eggs of this bird, and he describes them as 

 pale spotless blue. 



Nesting : see Ibis, 1895, January, p. 45. 



PsiTTiPAKUS, Hellmayr, 1903. 



The generic name Scceorhynchus, Gates is preoccupied, therefore the above 

 most appropriate one has been given. 



