NOTEii ON INDIAN TIMELIIDES AND THEIR ALLIES. 441 



PSBUDOMINLA CASTANEICEPS BRUNNEICAUDAXA, *Sharpe, 



The Shillong Chestnut-headed Babbler. 

 Minla brunneicaudata, Sliarpe, Cat., B. M., vii., p. 609. 

 Description. — Similar to P. c. castaneicej^s, differs in having head much 

 paler and more rufous ; the chestnut on wings paler ; tail brownish and no 

 yellow on the forehead. 



Wing, 58 — 62 mm. ; culmen, 10 mm. ; tarsus, 22 mm. 

 Distribution. — Shillong, Khasia Hills. 



Numerous specimens in the Museum, from the above locality, all with the 

 light-coloured head. 



Note — This another well marked case of isolation in the " Assam Back- 

 water," birds from the North and East being the last sub-species and 

 quite distinct. 



ScHCENiPAEUS, Hume, 1874. 



Gates, F. B. I., i., p. 168. 



" With the genus Schoeniparus we enter on a group of small birds with 

 short blunt bills like the Tits, and with very strong feet. Their proper posi- 

 tion is undoubtedly in this sub-family, both on account of their structure and 

 their habits." 



This genus differs from the Alcippe in having no hairs overhanging its 

 nostrils, and in having a strongly graduated tail. Another interesting point 

 between these two families is that Alcip^je build cup-shaped or cradle-like 

 nests placed well above the ground, and lay eggs of a " Chaffinch " or 

 "Brambling" type, having a pinkish ground colour, and smears and smudges 

 of a darker pink, and still darker spots ; while Schmniparus all build domed 

 nests on or near the ground, and lay eggs of the " Garden Warbler " type 

 having a greenish or yellowish ground colour, with smears and smudges of 

 brownish, with darker spots. They are also essential ground birds and 

 thoroughly Timeliine in habits. They have the following characteristics : a 

 short round wing, the first four primaries graduated ; wing and tail about 

 equal, the latter strongly graduated ; a stout short bill ; nostrils covered by 

 a membrane, and not overhung by hairs ; and rectal bristles weak. They 

 also have brownish coloured heads with two conspicuous black lines, running 

 from above the eyes to the nape. 



Key. 



SchcBniparus consist of three species, one S. rufigularis, Mandelli, is con- 

 fined to Assam and Manipur. Whilst the second S. dubius, Hume, consist 

 of a number of local races extending from Assam into Burma and China. 

 The third S. brunneus, inhabiting China, Formosa and Hainan. 



a. Chestnut band across the breast . . 'S'. rufigularis. 



b. No ., „ „ „ „ . . '5- dubius and sub-species. 



ScHCEJ^iPARUS BUEiGULARis, Mandelli. 

 The Red-throated Tit-Babbler. 

 MW« n</y?<Zans, Mandelli, S. F., i., p.416 (1873); Sharpe, Cat., B. M., 

 vii., p. 610. 



* PSETJDOxMINLA CASTANEICEPS SOEOE, Sharpe. 



Sharpe, P. Z. S., 1887, p. 439. 



"Closely allied to M. castaneiceps, from which it differs in its inuch larger size, 

 darker olive-bro',vn coloration, and deep chestnut, not orange, edging to the quills-" 

 " Irides dark brown." ( Sharpe-) 



Wing, 67 to 62 mm. ; culmen, 13 mm. ; tarsus, 24 mm. 

 Habitat — Malay Peninsula. 



