THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 23 



of Orthotonus and Franklinia on the one hand and of Cisticola on 

 the other, for, though they are not completely enclosed in one or more 

 leaves as is the case with the former, they are yet firmer and more 

 bulky than are the latter. As a rule, the leaf, which is usually the 

 semi-pendant one of a khydia, or kindred plant, about half encloses the 

 nest forming the back- wall and also a partial support to the side-walls. 

 It differs also from all allied nests that I know of in having a distinct 

 lining of vegetable down. 



I have seen very little of this bird in a state of nature, but this little 

 certainly leads me to the same conclusion as Oates has arrived at, 

 namely, that the bird is more nearly allied to Cryptolopha than to 

 OrtJiotomus. Its eggs, however, show a nearer affinity to the latter 

 genus. They are much like very pale, scantily-marked specimens of 

 the eggs of 0. sutorius, and I have one or two clutches of this bird 

 which match them very well. They average *56" X *45", and in shape 

 are broad, very regular ovals. 



(188) Suva crinigeka. — The Brown Hill-Warbler. 

 Oates, No. 458 ; Hume, Nos. 547, 548, and 549 Quat. 

 Common everywhere in suitable localities. 



S. atrogularis. — The Black-throated Hill-Warbler. 

 Oates, No. 459 ; Hume, No. 549. 

 I am somewhat doubtful about this species, as I have no skins to refer 

 to, nor have I ever been able to compare the bird with an authenticated 

 skin. The birds which I imagined to have been of this species were both 

 darker and duller on the upper plumage than the next species ; in many 

 the supercilium is quite absent, and in the others, most indistinct. On 

 the other hand the black of the breast does not descend as low as it should 

 do in a typical S. atrogularis. 



(189) S. khasiana— Austen's Hill-Warbler. 

 Oates, No. 460 ; Hume, No. 549 Bis. 

 The species is very common on all the higher ranges, but I have not 

 found it below about 3,000 feet. The eggs are of three distinct types. 

 In one the ground-colour is pure white, and in another a pale bluish 

 or greenish. In both these types the markings consist of strongly 

 defined spots and specks of brownish-red, which in nine cases out of 

 ten form a ring or cap towards the larger end and are sparsely scatter- 

 ed elsewhere ; but in a few eggs the markings are very dense every- 



