NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF UPPER ASSAM. 241 



35. Turdinus abbotti (Blyth) [160].— Abbott's Babbler. 



Locally distributed at the base of tbe hills in North Lakhimpur. 



Secured on half a dozen occasions. Silonibari, Dejoo, Derpai. 



Iris light brown ; bill bluish horny ; upper mandible rather darker than 

 lower mandible ; tarsus fleshy horn. 



36. Thringorhina oglei (Godw.-Aust.) [162]. — Austen's Spotted Babbler. 

 Confined to north-east corner, Margherita. 



37. Proparus nipalensis (Hodgs.) [163]. — The Nepal Babbler. 



Alcippe nepalensis, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 157. 

 Throughout the plains and hills around the head of the valley in forest ; 

 everywhere numerous if not conspicuous. 



38. Stachyris niyriceps, Hodgs. [169]. — The Black-throated Babbler. 



Stachyrhis niyriceps, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 162. 

 Distributed in the plains and hills, although not common. 



39. Stachyris chryscBci, Blyth [170]. — Golden-headed Babbler. 



Stachyrhis chryscsa, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 163. 

 Similar in distribution as S. niyriceps. By no means restricted to a 

 particular habitat, reeds and similar growth apparently as much to its 

 liking as the dense vegetation on the hillsides. Margherita, Beni, 

 Ganditola, Dejoo (Rungagora, not common). 



40. Stachyi-idopsis ruflceps rufifrons (Hume) [173]. — Hume's Babbler. 



Stachyrhidopsis rufifrons, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 165. 

 Sparingly distributed in the plains, plentiful along the terai. This 

 Babbler undoubtedly replaces the typical form in Upper Assam, although 

 the latter is recorded for Dibrugarh. Personally I have failed to meet with 

 it. Margherita, Gogaldhubie, Seajuli, Dejoo, (Rungagora, not common). 



41. Mixornis rubicapilla (Tick.) [176]. — The Yellow-breasted Babbler. 



Mixornis rubricapillus, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 167. 

 Distributed throughout the plains. Partial to light forest growth not 

 the dense evergreen forests. Feeds on and keeps to the ground when 

 in thick scrub. 



42. Proparus rufiyularis (Mand.) [180].— The Red-headed Tit Babbler. 



Schceniparus rufiyidaris, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 170. 

 This Tit Babbler is resident throughout the whole breadth of the 

 valley from the Daphla hills to the Naga hills. In the hills on the North 

 Frontier (Abor-Miri country) is displaced by Pseudominla cinerea after 

 the first low ranges. Strictly confined to undergrowth in the evergreen 

 forests amongst which it creeps about in parties of six or thereabouts in 

 the cold season, but later on at the commencement of the nesting time is 

 found in pairs. P. inandellii is recorded for the Daphla hills. Personally 

 I have failed to meet with it at low elevations in these hills ; this locality 

 is probably erroneous. 



43. Pseudominla cinerea (Blyth.) [181]. — The Dusky Green Tit Babbler. 



Sittiparus cinereus, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 171. 

 Confined to the valleys and slopes of the hills on the North Frontier on 

 both sides of the water shed, although absent from the first few low ranges 

 found as high as 6,000' in the Abor-Miri hills. Similar in habits to Proparus 

 rufiyularis, but the parties frequently number a score or thereabouts. 

 Partial to light open tree jungle and brush wood in forest. Its note is 

 a low twitter. 



44. Pseudominla castaniceps (Hodgs.) [182].— The Chestnut-headed Tit 



Babbler. 



Sittiparus castaneiceps, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 172. 



