40 PASSERES 
1. Melanochlora sultanea sultanea (Hodgson). (PI. 2, Figs. 6a, 6b.) 
Parus sultaneus Hodgson, Ind. Review, Vol. 1, }). 31 (1837) (Nepal). 
Fig. Gould, Birds Asia, Vol. 2, pl. 5r. 
Hab. The lower ranges of the Himalayas from Nepal to head of Assam valley; mountains south of the 
Bramaputra (Khasia hills, Cachar, Manipur); Burma (from the Kakhyru hills near Bhamo, south- 
ward to Pevu, Karennee etc.) and northern Tennasserim. Also recorded from the mountains of 
N. W. Fohkien, South-eastern China. I have, however, never seen Chinese examples. 
2. Melanochlora sultanea flavocristata (Lafresnaye). 
Parus flavo-cristatus Lafresnaye, Mag. Zool. Cl. 2, pl. 80 (1837) (« Iles de la Sonde »). 
Melanochlora Sumatrana Lesson, Rev. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 42 (1839) (Sumatra). 
Crataionyx flava Eyton, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. Vol. 7, 1839, p. 104 (1839) (« Malaya»; = ©). 
Crataionyx ater Eyton, ibidem, p. 104 (1839) (« Malaya»; = 2). 
Fig. Mag. Zool. 1837, Cl. 2, pl. 80. 
Hab. Southern Tennasserim, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra. 
4. GENUS APHELOCEPHALA OBERHOLSER 
Xerophila (nec F. Held 1837, Mollusca) Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. Vol. 8, 1840, p. 175 (1841) 
(type : X. leucopsis Gould). 
Aphelocephala Oberholser, Proc. Acad Nat. Sc. Philad. 1899, p. 214 (1899) (nom. emend.). 
Characters. Bill rather short, semi-conical, thick, decidedly deeper than wide, culmen 
strongly curved from base to tip; gonys straight for its basal half, distinctly ascending termi- 
nally. Tongue obtuse, without any bristles. Nasal fossz large, operculate; nostrils very small, 
nearly circular and almost completely concealed by the antrorse, dense, bristle-like latero- 
frontal plumules. Rictal bristles strong, well developed, though not very numerous, Wing 
rather long, rounded; fourth and fifth primaries longest, third and sixth but little shorter; first 
primary somewhat longer than half the second. Secondaries broad and rather long, their 
length equal to about four-fifths of the wing. Tail square, much shorter than wing, not more 
than three-fourths of the latter. Upper tail coverts much developed, covering the basal half 
of the tail. Tarsus robust, rather more than twice as long as hind toe without claw; acrotarsium 
distinctly scutellate. Toes slender, outer toe somewhat longer than inner, with claws rather 
short; hallux stout, with stronger, more decidedly curved claw. Wing 56-60, tail 40-46 mm. 
Coloration. Above hair-brown or chestnut (if chestnut, pileam dark brown). Lores and 
sides of forehead white or buff. Under parts variable, either plain buffish, with more or less 
ferruginous on flanks (4. leucopsis and A. castaneiventris), or with a distinct crescent (chestnut 
in 4. fectoralis, black in A. nigricincta) over the breast. Tail tipped with white. Sexes alike. 
Plumage soft and lax. 
Geographical Distribution. Australia. Five species and subspecies. 
Habits. These birds associate in small flocks, frequent gardens, bushes, and low trees, 
and hop very quickly over the ground, prying among the herbage for their food, which princi- 
pally consists of the seeds of grasses and small annuals. They are reported to be very tame 
and to be met with even in the gardens of Adelaide, The nest is of large size, of a domed form, 
with a hole for an entrance near the top, and is composed of dried grasses, moss, spider’s webs, 
wool, the soft blossoms of plants and dead leaves matted together and inside lined with 
feathers. The eggs, mostly three in a clutch, are fleshy white. 
