Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/386

 342 TIMALIIDJE. well as the fringe of forests and scrub-jungle. In the breeding season it performs wonderful acrobatic feats, darting up into the air and then with all its feathers, especially those of the rump, puffed out, it conies spinning down in a spiral to the perch it has left. Arrived there it spreads and flirts its tail like a little Pea- cock, drooping its wings and uttering all the time a protracted, sibilant whistle or chirrup. It has a great variety of notes, the most striking of which is a prolonged " we-e-e-e-ta," a long, drawn- out wail with the last note dropping suddenly. This seems never to be uttered except in the rains, and when constantly repeated to the accompaniment of the splash of rain and the sough of the wind, is one of the saddest little bird-notes imaginable. It is generally found ^" pairs and is not gregarious, thougli, where it is common, three or four may be seen together on the same tree, hunting actively for the insects which form its food.


 * Motadlla zei/lonica Gmel., S. N., i,-p. 964 (1788) (Ceylon).

Vernacular names. Patrajitta (Tel.).

Description. — Male breeding. Above from crown to rump much blacker than in the last bird and where the bases of the feathers show through these are much narrower, especially on the extreme upper back.

The non-breeding male and female are a much darker green above than ^E. t. tiphia.

The other differences which have often been dwelt upon, such as the absence of white on the wing, the depth of yellow below, etc. are of little help in distinguishing one race from another, but the dark tint at once suffices to separate C'eylon and S. Travan- core birds from all but those of the Malay Peninsula, which undoubtedly come extraordinarily close to them.

Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the other races.

Distribution. Ceylon and S. Travancore only.

Nidification and Habits as in the last.

{{c|{{larger|(364) .ffigitliina tiphia humei, subsp. nov. The Central Indian Iora.

Vernacular names. None recorded. Description.— Adult male breeding. Varies little from the last; there may be rather more yellow showing on the nape as a rule and the lower parts are perhaps brighter. Female is much paler and duller than either of the other races, the yellow-green of the back having a faint grey tinge whilst the