26 



TAHAN EXPEDITION. 



l)oon killed in Juno and July are in very worn plumage, but I do not 

 think this greyer colour can be entirely accounted for by wear. There 

 is no difference in the colour of the underparts between the present 

 form and S. caslaneicauda. This is clearly proved by the large series 

 collected by Mr. Robinson. The ear-coverts appear to be of a more 

 blackish-tint in the Malayan bird, while in S. castaneicauda they are 

 grey. 



This species is new to the British Museum. 



[Very common on Gunong Tahan proper, above 5,000 ft., and 

 ranging up to the extreme summit at over 7,000 ft. Indeed, this 

 species, with Mesia argentauris and Suya water stradti, probably make 

 up 99 per cent, of the bird-population, above the heavy jungle-zone on 

 the mountain. It flies in parties of six or eight and frequents the 

 open stony slopes of the mountain- side, which are only sparsely clad 

 with heath-like shrubs, which rarely reach 10 ft. in height. It is 

 not common in the gullies, where the vegetation is thicker and taller. 

 Its food appears to consist principally of small insects for which it 

 searches the upper branches of the shrubs, not coming so near the 

 ground as does Mesia argentauris. 



The large series of nearly fifty specimens differ very little inter se, 

 but some specimens have the under surface very much paler in tint 

 than others ; nearly all, however, are in very worn plumage and 

 the difference in colour is probably due to the age of the feather and 

 not of the bird, the colours in this family being remarkably sensitive 

 to light. — H. C. K.] 



45. SIBIA SIMILLIMA, Salyad. 



Sibia simillima, Grant, p. 81. 



a. m. Gunong Ulu Kali. 4,800-5,800 ft, 7th February, 1906. 



46. BRACHYPTERYX WRAYI, Grant. 

 Brachypteryx nipalensis, Sharpe (nee Moore), P.Z.S., 1888, p. 273. 

 Brachypteryx wrayi, Grant, Bull., B.O.C., xix., No. exxvii., p. 10 

 (1906). 



Adult male similar to the male of B. nipalensis, Moore, but 

 darker slate-colour above. 



Total length : ca., 4.3 in. ; wing, 2.4 in. ; tail, 1.3 in.; tarsus, 1.1 in. 



Adult female differs from the female of B. nipalensis in having 

 the general colour above very dark reddish-brown, instead of olive- 

 brown ; the feathers on the sides of the chest and flanks are also dark 

 brown, instead of clay-brown. 

 Total length • ca., 4.2 in. ; wing, 2.4 in. ; tail, 1.4 in. ; tarsus, 1.1 in. 



a., b. to., /.imm. Gunong Tahan (8th Camp). 5,300-6,000 ft. 22nd June, 

 1905. (Nos. 181, 182). 



c. m. Gunong Tahan (8th Camp). 5,800-6,000 ft. 27th June, 1905. (No. 223). 



d. m. „ „ „ 4th July, 1905. (No. 271). 



e. m. „ „ „ 9th „ (No. 329). 



f. m. „ (9th Camp). 5,100-7,000 ft. 16th „ (No. 382) 



