NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF UPPER ASSAM. 251 



Iris brown ; bill horny black, edged with yellow at base ; tarsus dull, 

 yellow. 



1.17. Roreites brunjiifrons (Hodgs.) [455].— The Rufous-capped Bush- 

 Warbler. 



Throughout the plains in the cold season partial to thickets of bracken 

 and reeds in low-lying land and along the banks of the rivers. Dejoo, 

 la-9-08 * ; Silonibari, 26-10-11 " ; first records for these years. Nume- 

 rous records : November, December, January, specimens secured. 



118. Prinia lepida, Blyth. [462].— The Streaked Wren-Warbler. 

 Contined to the " chopras " on the sandy " churs " of the large rivers. 



A series secured around Hessamara (Subansiri R.) in December 1905 and 

 January 1906. Iris-ochreous yellow; bill bluish horny ; tarsus fleshy ; claws 

 horny. 



119. Prinia Jlcmoeiitris (Deless.) [463].— The Yellow-bellied Wren- 



Wa,rbler. 



Resident throughout the plains ; a series secured at Hessamara, Komo- 

 labari, Rungagora, Silonibari, 13-7-11 ; nest and four eggs, 16-9-11 four 

 young. 



Iris pale sienna brown, dark ochreous yellow ; bill horny black-edged 

 pale ; tarsus yellowish fleshy, or pale yellowish horny. 



120. Prinia inornata inornata, Sykes. [466]. — ^The Indian Wren-Warbler. 

 Resident throughout the plains. In North Lakhimpur appears to be 



the predominant Prinia so far as the number of nests recorded at Dejoo 

 prove. I have not had a single instance recorded of P. Jlaviventris nesting 

 in this garden, whilst at Rungagora, north of Dibrugarh, equal numbers of 

 both species was the general order. 



Iris pale yellowish brown ; bill slaty horny ; lower mandible light horny 

 brown ; tarsus brownish fleshy ; claws horny brown. 



The various geographical races of this Prinia have been carefully gone 

 into by Mr. Collingwood Ingram, " Novitates Zoologicse," Vol. six., pages 299 

 and 300. Since his notes have been published, Major H. H. Harington has 

 further subdivided the form from Upper Burma, as P. i. buronanica, Bull, 

 B. O. C, Vol. xxi., p. 111. My specimens judging from the descriptions 

 appear to be nearest to the typical form. 



121. Laniusnigrice2)s (¥Ta,v\k\.) [475]. — The Black-headed Shrike. 

 Essentially restricted to grass lands and reedy wastes, which accounts 



somewhat for want of departure dates. These July and August records 

 indicate the close proximity of its breeding haunts. The abnormal condi- 

 tion of the weather evidently being the inducement to descend to the foot 

 of the hills. No departure dates available. Subject to a wide range in 

 colouration ; pale individuals are quite apparent on a casual observation. 

 This species has a harsh chatter common to all shrikes. Dejoo, North 

 Lakhimpur, 5-7-04, ,5, an unusual date in the rains; 23-7-08*, during a 

 phenomenal dry spell of weather in a "hoolah". Silonibari, 13-8-11*, heavy 

 rains in the hills, dirty weather. Dejoo, 18-8-10'-, heavy rain night previous, 

 low temperature, dull morning ; Dejoo, 22-8-07'', during a phenomenal dry 

 spell of weather ; Dejoo, 25/26-8-10 (one of these records 25-8-10 may refer 

 to the same bird, 18-8-10, although noted in a separate locality ; the other 

 refers to a record io a totally different direction, 26-8-10 and most impro- 

 bable that it should be the same bird) ; 31-8-08*, the bird seen on 23-7-08, 

 was joined this day by another which took up its quarters some short 

 distance apart. 



122. Lanius schach tephronotus (Vig.). [477]. — The Grey-backed Shrike. 



Lanius tephronotus, Gates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 465. 



