NOTES ON INDIAN TIMELIIDES AND THEIR ALLIES. 641 



Aethostoma rostratum, Blyth. 

 Blj/th^s Babbler. 



Trichostoma rostratum, Blyth, T. A. S. B., xi., p. 795 (1842) ; Sharpe, 

 Cat., B. M., vii., p. 562 ; Gates, F. B. I., i., p. 153. 



Description. — As in Gates, F, B. I, 



Nothing appears to be known about the habits of this bird. 



Distribution. — Extreme south of Tenasserim, extending to Sumatra and 

 Borneo. 



Erythrociohla, Sharpe (1883). 



Buttikofer. Notes Leyden Museum, xvii., p. 98. 



BiU long and strong, rather broad at the base, nasal aperture linear ; 

 rictal bristles long and rigid, reaching beyond the nostrils ; tail much 

 shorter than the wing. 



I may be wrong in placing ErythrocicMa in this group, as it appears to be 

 more a ground bird and has a distinct likeness to Malacocihla abbotti. 



Ebyihrocichla bicoloe, Less. 

 The Ferrwjinous Babbler. 



Brachypteryx bicolor, Less., Rev. Zool. (1839), p. 138. 



ErythrocicMa bicolor, Sharpe, Oat. B. M., vii., p. 551 ; Gates, F. B. I., i., 

 p. 152. 



Description. — As in Gates, F. B. I. 



Distribution. — Extreme south of Tenasserim, extending down the Malay 

 Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo. 



Family. — Sibiidse. 



Sexes similar ; nostrils exposed ; habits strictly arboreal ; size medium 

 ( Yuhina Group small) ; wing moderately long ; legs and feet not particular- 

 ly strong. 



Mr. Gates in the Fauna of India includes in his Sibiinse a large number 

 of genera which have nothing much in common with each other. I have 

 divided up the family into two sub-families, Sibiince and Yuhincs. 



SiLiince, 



I think this should only contain, Sibia, Lioptila, and possibly Actinodura 

 and Ivops, these last two show a marked affinity to the Trochalopterum 

 in the colour of their eggs, 



Yuhince, 



I have placed the following genera together, Yuhina, Ivulus, Staphidia, and 

 Serpornis, they appear to form a connecting link between the Alcippe and 

 the Lioptila. They, however, differ greatly from the latter in size and ap- 

 pearance, as well as in nidification. 



Sibiince. 



Have the following characteristics : wing, long and not rounded, the first 

 four primaries graduated, the fifth and sixth equal and longest ; tail long 

 (short in Ivops) and graduated ; legs and feet moderate ; bill narrow and 

 slightly curved ; habits purely arboreal ; eggs various in colouration. 



The true Sibiince are strictly arboreal in habits, many going about in 

 large family parties, and during the breeding season are extremely noisy. 



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