whistle. It is purely insectivorous, finding its food in the lower cover and but seldom descending to the ground.
(271) Stachyris nigriceps coltarti.
The Assam Black-throated Babbler.
- Stachyris nigriceps coltarti Harington, Bull. B. O. C, xxxiii, p. 61 (1913) (Margherita).
Vernacular names. Dao-riaphong (Cachari).
Description. Differs from S. n. nigriceps in having no white edges to the feathers of the chin and throat.
Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in that bird.
Distribution. Assam south of the Brahmaputra, Western Burma and Bhamo Hills, South to Tenasserim but not including that state. Birds from the Southern Shan States are intermediate between this and the next form but nearer the latter.
Nidification and Habits as in the Sikkim bird but keeping to lower levels. It is more common below 3,000 feet than above this height. Two hundred eggs average 19·1 × 14·7 mm.
(272) Stachyris nigriceps davisoni.
The Malay Grey-throated Babbler.
- Stachyris davisoni Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C, i, p. 7 (1892) (Pahang).
Vernacular names. None recorded.
Description. Differs from the two preceding forms in having the throat ashy-grey; the ear-coverts are hair-brown and the upper plumage is suffused with rufous.
Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in S. n. nigriceps.
Distribution. S. Tenasserim, Peninsular Siam and Malay Peninsula. Birds from the Eastern Burmese hills as far North as Karenni are also of this race as are those from the Shan States.
Nidification and Habits differ in no way from those of the preceding forms. The eggs average about 19·2 × 14·8 mm.
(273) Stachyris chrysæa chrysæa.
The Nepal Golden-headed Babbler.
- Stachyris chrysæa Blyth, J. A. S. B., xiii, p. 379 (1844) (Nepal); Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 163.
Vernacular names. Syak-birang-pho (Lepcha).
Description. Forehead golden-yellow; crown and nape the same streaked with black; lores and a short moustachial streak black; ear-coverts oil-yellow; upper parts, sides of neck and exposed parts of wings bright olive-yellow; tail brown washed with yellow on the outer webs; entire lower plumige bright yellow.
