Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/472

 426 PYCNONOTID^. eggs takeu by Stewart and Bourdillon in Travancore and by Bell in Kanara average 21"9xl5"G mm. and vary in length between 21-0xl5-9 and 22'3 X 16 mm. and in breadth between 21-2 X 150 and 22-3 x 16 mm. Tiie birds of this species often lay one egg only, single eggs quite hard-set having been taken by Mr. J. Stewart in Travancore.

Habits. Those of the genus. It is found from the level of the plains up to some 2,000 feet.


 * Brachypodms cinereoventris Biyth, J.A. S.B., xiv, p. 576 (1845) (Tippera).
 * Microjnis cinereiventris. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 295.

Vernacular names. Dao-bulip-garaju (Cachari).

Description. This bird differs from M. m. melanoceplmlns in having the breast, upper part of the abdomen, hind-neck and sometimes the upper back bluish grey instead of yellow or green.

Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in that bird.

Distribution. The same also as in that bird but apparently not extending to Siam, Annam, or Sumatra and the other islands. Nidification and HaWts exactly the same as those of the Black- headed Bulbul. It is generally found in company with flocks of the Black-headed birds and, as far as my experience goes, never by itself, though every flock of the former may not necessarily contain any of these with grey abdomens. The Cachari names for 31. melanocepJudus and M. cinereoventris mean male and female of the same species but, as I have already shown, the difference is not one of sexes though the two birds are probably dimorphic forms of the same species. Two pairs of eggs in my collection measure 2 L-4X 15-4; 2i-0xl5'land 23-4X16-I; 22-4xl7-0mm. The latter appear very large for the size of the bird. Genus KELAARTIA Blyth {fide Jerdon), 1863. The single species of Kelaartia is peculiar to Ceylon. It is characterized by the curious pointed feathers constituting the supercilium and by the rounded feathers of the crown, the two forming a striking contrast. The tarsus in this genus is rather longer than is usual in the Bulbuls, but it does not exceed in length the middle toe and claw.


 * Pi/cnonotus jjenicillatus Blyth, J. A. S. B., xx, p. 178 (1851) (Ceylon).
 * Kelaartia penicillata Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 297.

Vernacular names. None recorded.