1876.] Hill Ranges of tie N. E. Frontier. 203 



Sphenocerctts sphenttrus, Vigors. 

 In the collection nnder review, specimens of this hird have red feet 

 and legs, as described in Jerclon ; curiously enough, however, Khasi Hill 

 birds, obtained near Shillong in May, have them yellow, and hence it was 

 that when recording the specimens in my field-note-book, I entered 

 them under the genus Crocopus : in no other point can I detect the slightest 

 difference. 



795. Tttrtttr Suratensis, Gmelin, white var. 

 This very pretty albinoid variety is rather smaller in size than ordinary 

 specimens. It is white throughout, the black of the nuchal patch with 

 the white spots being replaced by pale ash-grey, as well as the darker 

 portions of the wing and base of the tail-feathers. This interesting 

 variety was shot at Lakhipur in Kachar. 



82. Arboricola torqueola, var. 

 In my last list I recorded a female of A. rufogularis from the Naga 

 Hills, no male having been seen. Among Mr. Robert's birds there are several 

 fine wood-partridges with red heads, and from the same locality another 

 female similar to the one I got under Japvo Peak in 1872 — 73. This I now 

 refer to A. torqueola, instead of to A. rufogulare, the place of which in the 

 list must be taken by the former name. Compared with A. torqueola from 

 the Simla Hills, N. W. Himalaya, there are several small but well-marked 

 variations, entitling the Naga. bird to be considered a variety. The legs of 

 the above-mentioned female are, I find, recorded in my field-book as pale 

 fleshy violet, and if Jerdon is right in giving red as the colour of those of 

 A. torqueola (which I find is the colour noted of a specimen of A. intermedia 

 from the Naga Hills obtained at the same time and place), the Naga bird 

 would be worthy of a new title. Do the legs of the males and females differ ? 



347. Htdrobata Asiatica, Swainson. 



This bird is pretty numerous in the streams that flow from the peak 

 of Shillong. Jerdon does not mention the remarkable white circle round 

 the eyes. The adult plumage is as follows : — 



Above — dark dull umber-brown ; beneath and sides of head sooty black, 

 A lunular white patch both above and below the eye, the lower being the 

 larger ; this is its most characteristic point, and it is very conspicuous in 

 the living bird, but in a badly skinned specimen is not to be made out. 

 Irides dark brown. Legs dark brown ; the scutse in front of tarsus pale 

 leadgrey. Bill black. 



Length about 8 inches, W. 3-8, T. 2-4, t. 1-3, Bf. 0-87. 



During the months of May and June, great numbers of different 

 species of Drymoecinae are to be found breeding on the high grass-lands of 



