78 H. H. Godwin- Austen — List of the Birds collected [No. 2, 



*430. Sibia picaoides, Hodgson. 



Its range appears to extend up to about 3000 ft. 



430 a. Sibia pulchella, G.-Austen. 



I obtained several specimens of tbis bird on tbe slopes of Toruputii 

 Peak at about 5000 ft. It was first obtained by me in tbe Naga Hills, 

 and it was interesting to find it extending to tbis side of tbe Assam valley. 

 # 432. Malacc-clbcus teebicoloe, Hodgson. 



I bave never got tbis bird on tbe soutb side of tbe Brabmaputra or in 

 Cacbar, and I did not see many even bere in tbe Darrang district. 



437 a. Malacociecus (Lataedia) eubiginosus, G.-Austen. 



It was a great pleasure to find tbis bird again and in Assam, so far from 

 tbe locality in wbicb it was first discovered by me in Munipnr. Beating 

 tbrougb some grass for florikan, near Helem, in tbe Darrang district, some 

 ruddy birds were flushed wbicb quickly bid tbemselves low down in tbe stuff 

 and could not be driven out, altbougb tbe elepbants were put tbrougb and 

 tbrougb it in every direction. I suspected tbey belonged to tbe above spe- 

 cies, but tbey were far more wary and concealed tbemselves more tban those 

 I had seen in Munipur. Several times afterwards similar birds were put 

 up and a snap shot was obtained of£ the pad of the elephant as they scudded 

 along for a few yards and dropped completely out of sight into the thick 

 grass. The chase at last became quite exciting, as I was determined to find 

 out what they really were. At last coming on a numerous party in an 

 outlying patch of grass, I dismounted and, sending the elephants to be put 

 in at the opposite end, had the piece beaten tip towards me ; as the birds flew 

 across an open space where the grass had been burnt, I managed to secure 

 a couple and so clear up the doubt that hung over tbeir identity. I after- 

 wards obtained, with the assistance of Mr. M. J. Ogle of the survey, two or 

 three others. From the back of an elephant, they afford a most difficult shot : 

 the flight is jerky, and unlike other grass baunting species, these birds very 

 seldom when driven perch on the higher stalks before settling into the cover, 

 but shuffle right down into the latter at once, and then continue moving 

 through it very rapidly and out of sight, so that in a few minutes they are 

 yards distant from the spot at which they originally alighted. "When hunted 

 in this way, they separate also and straggle in all directions ; which adds 

 to the difficulty of finding them again. I found it a far better plan not to 

 waste time over them, but to beat on again for another flock. 



439. Chatobhea Eaelei, Blyth. 



440. MeGtALUbus balusteis, Horsfield. 

 444. Htpsipetes psaboides, Vigors. 



The species in my former list, (p. 106) is this, not 3. concolor. 



448. Hemixus plavala, Hodgson. 



449. Alcueus steiatus. Blyth. 

 Toruputu. Peak. January. 



