580 
PIPEISOMA AGILE. 
the sides of the chest and breast with dull olivaceous mesial stripes to the feathers ; flanks olivaceous ; bases of 
the under tail-coverts dark. 
Some examples are less conspicuously striated beneath than others ; and one from the Uva district is greener than 
those from the Northern Province. 
Ym,ng male. “Length 3-9 inches ; wing 2-2 ; tail I'l ; bill at front 0-3. Iris differing from that of the adult, 
yellowish brown, darkest near the pupil, and without the bright ‘thread* or cii'cle round it; bill brownish horny, 
tip of upper mandible black, lower mandible paler ; legs and feet dark leaden ” {Parher, in epist.). Described as 
being like the adult ; the orbital rim of feathers “ dull white, and the outermost tail-feathers much paler than the 
rest ; the forehead with indications of strise.” 
In a young female the terminal w’hite spots on the lateral tail-feathers are almost absent. 
Ohs. In his paper on Ceylon birds (Str. Death. 1873, p. 434) Mr. Hume calls attention to certain characteristics of 
Ceylon examples of this species, concerning which he remarks that “ they have a much more decided green cast 
on the upper surface, especially on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; they are slightly smaller, and the bills are a 
little shorter and somewhat less compressed tow’ards the point.” I have carefully noted these remarks and 
endeavoured to get together as large a series as possible for comparison ; but skins of this little bird are by no 
means plentiful. I have examined four skins in the British Museum, two of w'hich are from the North-west 
Himalai'as, six of Mr. Ball’s, and one of Mr. Elwes. The latter is from Saugor, Central Province, and Mr. Ball’s 
skins are from Sambalpur, Satpura, andTalchin. The comparison of this small series with four Ceylon specimens 
tends to show that low-country Ceylon birds are smaller than Indian ; but a hill example almost equals a 
Himalayan one. Twm from this latter locality measure 2-4 and 2'45 inches. A Logole-oya (Uva) specimen 
measures 2’4. Sambalpur examples are as follows :■ — $ , wing 2-29 ; $ , wing 2-38 ; $ , wing 2-3 ; d , wing 2-4 ; 
Satpura, d, wing 2-3; Talchin, d, wing 2-4. In all these the wing is slightly more pointed than in the 
Ceylonese bird, the 1st quill usually almost equalling the 2nd, and in the others being a trifle shorter than it ; 
in the Satpura specimen it is about -gig inch less than the 2ud. The Ceylon specimens all vary in this respect, 
this feather in twn falling short of the 2nd by nearly Were there, therefore, no variation in the continental 
bu’ds our race might stand as a subspecies. With regard to the colour, the green of the Indian birds on the rump 
and upper tail-coverts is of a more yellow tinge than in the island race, which is characterized by its more olive 
tint. Newly moulted specimens are much brighter than birds in old feather. Males are greyer than females on 
the head. These several differences would appear on paper to have some weight ; but on laying the two series of 
skins side by side I have btion unable to separate them, the Ceylonese birds merely differing in that slight manner 
which one expects in such a small bird isolated somewhat from its fellows of the mainland. 
Distribution. — This curious little bird, as far as it has yet been observed, seems to inhabit principally the 
midland portion of the northern forest tract. Layard obtained it on the Central road, and Mr. Parker, from 
whom I have received specimens, informs me that it is not uncommon at Madewatchiya and about Aiiarad- 
japura, and he has lately procured it at Uswewa in the month of July. I met with it in Uva, and obtained 
a specimen on the Logole oya at about 3000 feet elevation. It occurs, I believe, in the Kandy district, and 
would therefore appear to be scattered sparingly over a considerable portion of the island. 
Jerdon writes of this bird, “ It is found over the greater part of India, from the Himalayas to the Malabar 
coast most commonly in jungle-districts ; but it is also seen occasionally in groves of trees in bare 
country. I have procured it at Goomsoor, on the Eastern Ghats, in Malabar, and the Deccan. Blyth obtained 
it in the Midnapore jungles.” Captain Beavan remarks, “ This bird cannot be considered common in Maun- 
bhoom, although it is certainly tolerably abundant during the breeding-season.” In Kumaon it was observed 
by Mr. Thompson, who spoke of it also as breeding at Kamnuggur, which is on the borders of the sub- 
Himalayan range. 
Habits. — The Thick-billed Flowerpecker frequents the tops of trees in forest, searching about among leaves 
and small boughs for insects, after the manner of Dictmm. It is generally, according to my experience, solitary ; 
but Air. Parker shot one out of a troop of four or five in the Uswewa district. It feeds on spiders and minute 
insects; in Uva I noticed it frequenting small umbrageous trees overhanging a rocky stream in a glen. 
Jerdon remarks that it has a weak piping note and associates in small flocks ; but Capt. Beavan testifies to the 
contrary, saying that he observed it alone, and says that its dull colours prevent its being seen. “ Its note,” 
