pointed, the secondaries falling short of the tip by a considerable distance. The tail is distinctly forked and the outer feathers curved outwards. The tarsus is smooth and very short (see fig. 70, p. 360), being between a sixth and a seventh of the length of the wing. There is only one species found within our limits but that is represented by numerous geographical races. The genus extends from India to Japan.
Microscelis psaroides.
Key to Subspecies.
| A. |
Crown of head black, contrasting with paler grey of back and clearly defined from it.
|
| a. |
A black streak behind and under the ear-coverts.
|
| a'. |
Paler grey both above and below
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
M. psaroides psaroides, p. 369. |
| b'. |
Darker bluish grey above and below
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
M. p. nigrescens, p. 371. |
| b. |
No black streak behind or under the ear-coverts
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
M. p. ganeesa, p. 372. |
| B. |
Crown of bead black, gradually merging into the blackish grey of back and upper parts
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
M. p. concolor, p. 372. |
_413.jpg)
Fig. 73.—Tail of M. p. psaroides.
(386) Microscelis psaroides psaroides.
The Himalayan Black Bulbul.
Hypsipetes psaroides Vigors, P. Z. S., 1831, p. 43 (Himalayas, Simla); Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 260.
Vernacular names. Ban Bakra (at Mussoorie); Phaki-pho (Lepcha); Durkal (Chamba).
Description. Crown from forehead to nape, lores, a spot at the base of the lower mandible, another at the angle of the chin and a broad stripe round the ear-coverts black; a spot above the lores grey; upper plumage and wing-coverts dark grey; remainder
