AVES. 371 



145. Crateropus leucopygius (Riipp.). 



Jaos leucopygius, Riipp. Neu. Wirb. p. 82, t. xxx. f. 1. 



Crateropus hucopygius, Riipp. Syst. Uebers. No. 199. 



C. limbatus, Rupp. Syst. Uebers. p. 48, and No. 202, p. 60. 



Iris orange yellow, almost scarlet ; beak black ; legs 

 olivaceous. 



Occurs in small flocks not exceeding eight or 

 ten in number, constantly employed hunting about 

 on the ground and amongst the branches of trees 

 and bushes for their food, which consists chiefly of 

 insects. These birds fly one after the other from tree 

 to tree, and every now and then, usually when hidden 

 in the middle of a thick bush, burst out in a chorus 

 of chattering, precisely in the same manner as does 

 Garrulax. Indeed, the resemblance in general appear- 

 ance, flight, habits, and voice of these birds to some 

 of the white-headed species of Garrulax inhabiting 

 the Himalayas and Burma are most strikiug, and 

 there is also considerable similarity to some of the 

 Malacocerci. 



Crateropus leucopygius is found from about 3,500 or 

 4,000 feet above the sea to 8,000 or 9,000 feet. It was 

 common throughout the highlands on the route traversed. 

 There can, I think, be no question of C limhatus of 

 RiippeU being merely the young of this bird. The two 

 certainly occurred together, and I believe in the same 

 flock. 



Dimensions : — Total length about 10 to 10-5 in., wing 

 4-75, tail 4-5 to 4-75, bill 0-8, tarsus 1-4 in. 



B B 2 



