Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/454

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408
PYCNONOTIDÆ.

(422) Iole olivacea lönnbergi.

The Siam Bulbul.

Criniger lönnbergi Gyldenstolpe, Kung. Sven. Vetensk. Handl., 50, No. 8, p. 24 (1913) (Bang-hue-bom, N. Siam).

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. This race differs from I. o. virescens in having the under tail-coverts cinnamon instead of yellow and from cinnamomeoventris in being more yellow below and more green above. From both of these subspecies it differs in being much larger with a wing of 83 to 89 mm.

Measurements. Wing 83 to 89 mm.; culmen 15 to 15.5 mm.; tarsus 15.5 to 16.0 mm.; tail 76 to 83.5 mm. (Gyldenstolpe).

Distribution. This is a Northern form of the last bird but the limits of neither are as yet definable. Gyldenstolpe found it in N. Siam and specimens from the Shan States and Ynnnan are also referable to this form. It will probably also be found in the S.E. Kachin States.

Nidification. Unknown.

Habits. Gyldenstolpe records that he found it shy but not uncommon in some places in North Siam, frequenting dense primeval forests in small flocks.


(423) Iole nicobariensis.

The Nicobar Bulbul.

Hypsipetes nicobariensis Horsf. & Moore, Cat., i, p. 257 (1854) (Nicobars).

Iole nicobariensis. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 285.

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. Head and nape dark brown; sides of the head grey; upper plumage olive-green; wings and tail hair-brown, the feathers all edged with olive-green externally; chin, throat and upper breast white, faintly streaked with pale brown, grey or yellowish; remaining lower parts and under wing-coverts pale primrose-yellow, slightly mottled with white; the under tail-coverts yellow with brown centres.

Colours of soft parts. Legs and feet dark horny, greenish brown or greenish plumbeous; bill deep horny-brown, lower mandible and edge of upper dull yellow; iris brown (Hume).

Measurements. Length about 200 mm.; wing 96 to 103 mm.; tail about 95 mm.; tarsus about 18 to 19 mm.; culmen about 20 mm.

Distribution. The Nicobar Islands of Teressa, Bompoka, Tillanchong, Camorta, Nancoury, Trinkat, Katchall and Pilu Milu.

Nidification. Unknown but as Davison shot very young birds in February, they presumably lay about November to December.