NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF UPPER ASSAM. 237 



a more decided movement which put an end to the episode by the Pie's 

 departure. 



4. Dendrocitta rufus (Scop.) [16]. — Indian Tree-pie. 



Partial to the more cultivated tracts of the country ; often seen in 

 bungalow compounds. In North Lakhimpur occasionally visits Dejoo at 

 the base of the hills but only as a straggler. 



Maijan, May 1901, S 2 *'■> Rungagora, not common, 16-2-02, $ ; 

 Dejoo, 18-2-05 $ , 18-2-09* single. 



5. Dendrocitta himalayensis (Blyth.) [18]. — The Himalayan Tree-pie. 

 Common throughout the plains in the Dibrugarh district. Occurs in the 



Abor-Miri hills up to 6,000' altitude at all events. This Tree-pie is the 

 most generally distributed of the three species. 



6. Dendrocitta frontalis, McClell. [19J. — Black-browed Tree-pie. 

 Occurs throughout the plains. In habits if anything less wary than D. 



himalayends. Rungagora, 8-11-01* I noted a pair of these Pies hawking 

 for winged termites after the manner of King Crows {Dicrurus) from the 

 tops of some bamboo clumps at evening. 



Neither of these two Tree-pies are said to occur in the plains ( Gates) 

 and are regarded as hill species. Their occurrence in the plains of Upper 

 Assam is no doubt, as in several other cases, due to the close proximity of 

 the hills and the peculiar configuration of the land hemmed in at the 

 head of the valley. 



Iris reddish-brown ; bill and tarsus black. 



7. Parus major cinereus, Vieill. [31]. — Indian Grey Tit. 



Parus atriceps, Horsf . Oates, F. B. I. Vol. i., p., 46. 

 Throughout the whole area in cultivated tracts, not in forest. 

 The sole representative with the exception of P. sidtaneus of this in- 

 teresting genus at low elevations. 



8. Parus sultaneus sidtaneus, Hodgs. [255]. — -The Sultan Bird. 



MelanocMora sultanea, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 241. 

 Throughout the plains in evergreen forest and secondary jungle, fre- 

 quents the tops of the trees, more in evidence at the cold season. Undoubt- 

 edly a specialized tropical form ; a tit both in structure and habits, 

 rightly relegated to its true position in this genus by its original describer 

 Hodgson. Titadimora, Panitola, Rungagora, Margherita, Joyhing, Dejoo. 



9. Aegithalos ertjthrocephalus erythrocepJialus (Vig.) [35]. — Red-headed Tit. 



jEgithaliscus eri/throcephalus, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 50. 

 Plentiful in the vicinity of the " changs " at 4,000' in March in the Abor- 

 Miri hills on the right bank of the Subansiri. Partial to secondary scrub 

 growth in small parties. 



10. Paradoxornis flavirostris, Gould. [51]. — Gould's Parrot-billed Babbler. 

 "But but" serai. Plains Miris. 



On the north or right bank of the Bramapootra from Komolabari to the 

 base of the hills in North Lakhimpur is generally distributed in suitable 

 localities. Its favourite haunts are dense thickets of reeds ''ekra" and 

 "tora" or wild cardamom in "hoolahs"and low-lying ground " bhils, " 

 and also in the mixed grasses "nulni" and "lui," &c., of the " chopras " 

 along the banks and bed of the Subansiri and other rivers. Its striking 

 whistle best represented by the syllables " phew, " " phew," " phew " " phuit" 

 commencing in a low tone, which is increased in rapidity both in volume 

 and inflection, gives a certain clue to its presence and is sometimes the 

 only means of locating its whereabouts, as it is very chary of showing 

 itself excepting at early morn and before sunset, when they rise to the 



