1870.] A List of Birds from the Khasi hills Sfc. 105 



422. Trochalopteron phceniceum, Gould. 



422 a. Trochalopteron Austeni, Jerdon. 



This bird was pointed out to me as new by Dr. Jerdon 

 to whom I handed it over to describe ; he has done so in 

 the Ibis. To complete here the account of the bird, I give 

 a description as well. — Above rufous brown, greenish upon the 

 rump ; feathers of the tail and neck pale shafted, most marked- 

 ly on the side of neck behind the ear coverts ; under the throat 

 pale brown, gradually speckled on the lower breast with bars 

 of whitish, each feather tipped with dark brown. The white bars 

 increase in breadth towards the belly which is nearly all dusky 

 white. Thigh coverts olivaceous, primaries black grey, outer web 

 rich rufous brown, wing coverts same color, finely tipped white ; 

 secondaries also tipped white ; four first primaries grey on outer*. 

 web, gradually decreasing. Tail with two centre tail feathers rich 

 rufous ; four outer terminating in dark grey, tipped with white nar- 

 rowly. Legs pale pinkish grey, strong in form. Bill black, short 



and well notched. Irides umber. 



Length 9^ inches, extent 10 J", wing 4", tail 4£", tarsus 1 J", spread 



of foot £", bill at front *63" ; found in underwood on Hengdan Peak, 



Principal Trigonometrical Station of observation at head of the 



Jhiri river, 7000 feet; generally in pairs, uttering a harsh croaking 



call, and answering each other from time to time. 

 427 a. Actinodura near Egertoni, Q o u 1 d. 

 This bird differs from the above named in the crown and nape 



being ashy brown. Shoulder of wing and coverts olivaceous brown. 



Tail pale rufous brown, all the feathers distinctly barred. Beneath 



pale ruf escent, no ashy tinge and pale rufous on the neck and breast ; 



the principal point of difference is in the centre tail feathers, and its 



rather smaller size. Wing 3* 2 // , tail 4£ // . 



This bird was common on the high parts of the Burrail range, 



always seen hunting in the highest branches of the forest trees. 

 430 a. Sibia gracilis, M c C 1 e 1 1. 

 This bird was very abundant in the Burrail hills during the 



spring after March, generally in forest, I noticed it very busy 



after insects on the large flowering forest trees, the Simul or Cotton 



tree was a favorite. 



