Genus PSITTIPARUS Hellmayr, 1903.
Blanford's name of Scæorhynchus being preoccupied, Hellmayr's name of Psittiparus must be used for this genus. It differs from Neosuthora in having the tail longer, about equal to the wing and still less graduated, the outermost feather being nearly or quite five-sixths the length of the central ones. The bill is larger and longer in proportion. The 1st primary is a little more than half the length of the 5th, 6th and 7th, which are longest and subequal. The legs are exceptionally strong.
Key to Species and Subspecies.
| A. |
Crown of head rufous; chin white.
|
| a. |
Wing under 90 mm.; bill from front to tip 14 mm.
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|
P. ruficeps ruficeps, p. 116. |
| b. |
Wing 90 mm. or over; bill from front to tip 16 mm.
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|
P. r. bakeri, p. 117. |
| B. |
Crown of head grey; chin black.
|
| c. |
Wing over 90 mm.; under parts white
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|
P. gularis gularis, p. 118. |
| d. |
Wing under 90 mm.; under parts suffused with fulvous
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|
P. g. transfluvialis, p. 118. |
(101) Psittiparus ruficeps ruficeps.
The Red-headed Pakrot-Bii.l.
- Paradoxornis ruficeps Blyth, J. A. S. B., (I) ii, p. 177 (1842) (Bootan).
- Scæorhynchus ruficeps. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 68.
Vernacular names. Chongto-phep-pho (Lepcha).
Description. Head, nape, upper back, lores, cheeks and ear-coverts chestnut; upper pluujage, tail and exposed parts of wings olive-brown, tinged with rufous; the whole lower plumage white, tinged with brown on the sides of the body, vent, thighs and under tail-coverts.
Colours of soft parts. Iris deep red-brown; upper mandible horny brown, lower fleshy-brown; eyelids and mouth slate-blue; legs dark plumbeous blue; claws horn-brown.
Measurements. Total length about 180 mm.; wing 84 to 86 mm.; tail about 85 mm.; bill "from forehead to tip in a straight line 14 mm." (Hartert); tarsus about 28 mm.
Distribution. Hills north of the Brahmaputra east to Sadiya. Nepal and Sikkim.
Nidification and Habits. Not distinguishable from those of the next subspecies. Seven eggs in my collection average 22·8 × 16·7 mm.
