NOTEIS ON INDIAN TIMELIIDES AND THEIR ALLIES. 439 



This group has the following characteristics : wing and tail about equal in 

 length ; bill, small, stout, and gently curved ; the feathers of the head 

 ample ; plumage soft and dense ; and small in size. 



PSEUDOMINLA. ( Sittipavus, Gates.) 



Has the tail slightly shorter than the wing, and only slightly graduated ; 

 a very small bill ; and no hairs overhanging the nostrils. They are pu.rely 

 arboreal in habits, and appear to build dome-shaped nests, and lay spotted 

 eggs. 



SCHCENIPAKtJS. 



Are small birds very similar to the last, with the same noticeable dark 

 stripes on the head, but differ in having a longer and graduated tail, a 

 stouter bill, and are terrestial in habits. They build dome-shaped nests, 

 which are placed on or near the ground, and lay eggs remarkably like those 

 of the English Garden-Warbler and Black-Cap. They, however, appear to 

 grade hito Alcippe, as S. byunneus,QoVi\d, at first sight can easily be mistaken 

 as belonging to that genus. 



Alcippb. 



Differs from the last two genera in having the nostrils overhung with hairs, 

 the majority, however, have the dark stripes on the head. This genus is 

 peculiar in containing birds very similar in plumage, but diff'ering in habits. 

 The eggs of all are very highly coloured and vary greatly in marking, one 

 type is very like the eggs of the Chaffinch and Brambling, and also to the 

 pink type of Black-Cap. T have, however, never heard of any Alcippe laying 

 eggs with a greenish or yellow ground colour, and therefore similar to those 

 laid by Schceniparus, nor any of the last laying the pink type of egg. 



Pbopaktjs. 



Is a well defined genus of small birds, which approach Alcippe in appear- 

 ance, many having the conspicuous dark stripes on the head. Their 

 characteristics are their small bill, and remarkably long hind-claw. They 

 are only found at very high elevations, and consequently very locally 

 distributed. 



Siva. 



Were placed by Mr. Gates in the SibiincB, I think the Blue-winged 

 Sivas ( Cyanuroptera ) approaches much nearer, both in structure and appear- 

 ance, to Alcijjpe and Propancs. They are purely arboreal in habits, and lay 

 highly coloured blue eggs of a finch-like type. They are birds of a very 

 handsome plumage, and are chiefly noticeable for their tail feathers which 

 are obliquely truncated. 



LlOPAKUS. 



This genus consist of only one species peculiar to the Himalayas. I have 

 placed it in this group, but think its position doubtful, as it shows a marked 

 relationship to Chelidorhyn.v, Hodgson, ( Yellow-beUied Flycatcher). Nothing 

 definite appears to be known about its habits or nidifications. 



PsETJDOMiNLA, Gates, 1894. 



Fseudominla, Gates, Ibis, 194, p. 480. 



Proparoides, Bianchi, Bull., B.G.C., xii., p. 55 (1902). 



Sittipavus, Gates, F.B.I., i., p. 171. 



