266 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Tenasserim and Ceylon. Towards the south it is somewhat rare, 

 and only found at high elevations ; but, as you get further north, 

 it becomes more common, but chiefly occurs in hilly regions, and it 

 is not found in Lower Bengal. It is very abundant on the Neil- 

 gherries, both in the woods and in gardens ; and there it may be 

 seen clinging to flower stalks, extracting the minute insects 

 that infest flowers, by the pollen of which its forehead is often 

 powdered. It associates generally in small flocks, is lively 

 and brisk in its movements, and keeps up a continual feeble 

 twitter. In the plains it is found in well-wooded districts, or 

 jungly places, only, I think in the cold weather. It breeds 

 on the Neilgherries, and makes an exceedingly neat deep cup- 

 shaped nest of moss, lichen, hair, &c, not suspended, in those 

 I have seen, but fixed in the fork of two small branches, in a 

 Barberry or other low bush. I found two eggs only in several 

 nests, of a very pale blue, almost like skimmed milk. Hutton found 

 at Mussooree that it generally suspended the nest by some fibres, 

 hair, or silk. He describes the eggs as whitish green. He further says 

 that they are often mixed up with the flocks of Parus erythi'oce~ 

 phalus, and that they appear to feed greedily upon the small black 

 berries of a species of Iiliamnus common in these localities. They 

 depart for the Dhoon about the end of October, and they do not 

 ascend higher than about 5,000 feet. This bird is rare at Darjeeling, 

 and is only found in the warmer valleys. 



Numerous species of Zosterops are recorded from Africa, 

 Madagascar, Mauritius, the Malayan Archipelago, and Australia, 

 with Oceanica. 



The next two forms are by Gray and Blyth included in the Parince 

 or true Tits, but, from their mode of coloration, and more slender 

 bill, perhaps better associate with the members of this croup. 

 Gen. Sylviparus, Burton. 



Char. — Bill short, conic, straight, very slightly depressed at 

 the base; nostrils concealed by tufts of hairs and plumes; rictal 

 seta? wanting; wings long, 1st primary small, 2nd shorter than 

 the 3rd, which nearly equals the 4th and 5th ; tail rather short, or 

 moderate, even, or somewhat emarginate ; tarsus moderately long, 

 stout; feet small; hind toe long; claws well curved. 



