NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF VFFER ASSAM. 24a 



50. Tesia cyani venter, Hodgs. [20J]. — Slaty -bellied Short-wing. 



Tesia cyaniventris, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 192. 

 Occurs throughout the whole area in forest during the cold season. 

 Partial to saplings and undergrowth on which it hops up and down, whilst 

 uttering a high pitched note. Gates makes a great difference in the colour- 

 ation of the sexes particularly the forehead, crown and nape. My 

 impression is the sexes are alike. One specimen 10-1-04, c?, -which is. 

 apparently adult, has the crown coloured 8ap:green without the trace of 

 any golden tinge; the lower half of orbital ring is white. 



51. Tesia castaneocoronata (Burton) [202]. — Chestnut-headed Short-wino-. 



Oliyura castaneicoronata, Oates, F. B. I,, Vol. i, p. 193. 

 Descends to the base of the hills in North Lakhimpur during the cold 

 season. Occurs in the valleys on the north side of the watershed of the 

 Abor-Miri hills. Apparently returns to its old quarters on its descent to 

 the foot of the hills. I noted this prettily-coloured short-wing in the 

 almost sunless recesses of the Pobha, a stream which enters the Subansiri 

 gorge on the left bank ; again the following cold season, 26-1-06, it was in 

 evidence at exactly the same spot. It may yet be found during the cold 

 weather months farther out in the plains. There was one locality on the 

 right ba.nk of the Dibra in forest where I was almost positive of seeing it 

 amongst some brushwood, as I never secured any specimens, this record 

 lacks substantiation, although there is no mistaking such a strikingly 

 coloured bird if once properly seen. This locality refers to a mile or so 

 below Rungagora. Panchnoi gorge, Daphla hills, base, 23-11-05, $ ; 

 Kotur Valley, Beni, Abor-Miri hills, 13-2-06, 6, 22-2-06, J ; Seajuli, 

 North Lakhimpur, base of hills, latter weeks in November 1911.* 



52. Sibia picaoides, Hodgs. [203]. — Long-tailed Sibia. 



Descends to the base of the hills in North Lakhimpur during the cold 

 season ; partial to the tall Simal trees {Bomhax inalabaricuin) when in flower.. 

 Flocks sometimes number up to twenty individuals. January and February. 

 Joyhing, Derpai, Lilabari, Subansiri gorge above Sifloo Mukh. 



Iris crimson, occasionally light brown, irrespective of sex ; bill black ;, 

 tarsus purplish grey. 



53. Actinodura eyertoni, Gould [211], — Rufous Barwing, 



Obtained in February, Abor-Miri hills. Irequents light secondary growth. 

 in forest in parties of six to eight individuals. Colouration of soft parts : 

 Iris bluish brown ; bill dull yellow horny ; darker on culmen and tip ;, 

 tarsus fleshy horny. 



54. Staphidia rufiyenis (Hume) [217]. — Hume's Staphidia. 



Occurs in the Abor-Miri hills and the Gorge of the Subansiri (Ganditola, 

 Virgua stream). Very tit like in their habits ; parties sometimes number as 

 many as thirty birds. Iris reddish brown ; bill horny purple, dark at tip ; 

 tarsus brownish fleshy ; claws horn colour. 



55. Siva cyanouroptera cyanouroptera, Hodgs. [221].— Blue-winged Siva. 



In North Lakhimpur ; descends the gorges to the foot of the hills and' 

 extends a few miles distant into the plains. Partial to light tree growth 

 and scrub jungle. Occurs on the other side of the valley at Margherita ; 

 Beni, Abor-Miri hills, Gogaldhubie ; (Plains), North Lakhimpur, Dejoo 

 (Base of hills) ; Subansiri Gorge ; Pobha Mukh. 



56. Yuhina niyrimentum (Hodgs.) [225]. — Black-chinned Yuhina. 



Beni, Abor-Miri hills, 4,000' approximate, Feb. 1906. These attractive birds, 

 used to frequent in small parties almost daily some tall trees below the 

 " changs" several of which were secured. This Yuhina probably is a bird' 

 of lower elevations than the other two species of the genvis. 



