Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/257

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 * Pomatorhinus ruficollis bakeri Harington, J, B. N. H. S., xxiii, p. 336 (1914) (Shillong).

Vernacular names. Moh-Mera (Angami Naga).

Description. Similar to the last bird, but paler and olive-brown above rather than rufous-brown; below it is more fulvous and white instead of olive-brown and white.

Colours of soft parts and Measurements as ruficollis, but the bill is rather more slender.

Distribution. Hills South of the Brahmaputra in Assam, Manipur, Lushai, Chin Hills, Kachin Hills.

Nidification. Breeds in the Khasia and N. Cachar Hills in May and June, and in the Eastern Hills in April also. Later nests taken in July and August are certainly second broods. They nest everywhere between 3,000 and 6,000 feet, and though they seem to prefer humid forests, also sometimes build in recently deserted patches of cultivation where the grass and scrub is still scanty and low. The nests are the typical domed ovals of grass, bamboo and bracken leaves, but they are, perhaps, rather more tidy and smaller than most, measuring about 8″ long by 6″ wide and high. They lay three to five eggs which average (50 eggs) 23·4 × 17·4 mm.

Habits. Those of the genus. It keeps much to evergreen forest but may also be found in open bamboo jungle where it scratches about amongst the fallen leaves for a small bug-like insect on which it feeds.


 * Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps Walden, A. M. N. H., xii, p. 487 (1873) (Shan States); Blanf. & Oates i, p. 123.

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. Upper plumage bright ochraceous, the inner webs of the quills pale brown; tail paler ochraceous, the terminal halves of the feathers suffused with brown; lores and feathers at the base of the upper mandible black; a narrow white supercilium from nostrils to nape; ear-coverts rich hair-brown; chin, throat,