completely domed, egg-shaped affair measuring about 7 to 8 inches high by about 5 to 6 inches broad. The full complement of eggs is three or four but sometimes two only are laid. The eggs are like those of the last bird and two hundred average 20·8 × 15·6 mm.; the maxima are 22·0 × 16·0 and 19·5 × 16·1 mm., and minima 19·4 × 15·3 and 20·7 × 15·0 mm.
Habits. During the winter the Assam Tit-Babbler collects in small flocks of half-a-dozen to a dozen individuals, haunting forest with ample undergrowth and to a less extent bamboo-jungle and scrub. It is most common from 3,000 feet upwards and is found up to at least 6,000 feet and possibly a good deal higher. It is a restless, energetic little bird feeding partly on the ground, partly on the low bushes and trees, constantly changing its position and now and then fluttering from one perch to another as well as scrambling and hopping through the cover. Whilst engaged in feeding they utter a constant "chir-r-r-r" alternating with a sharp "chit." In the breeding season their habits alter greatly and they become shy, retiring little birds, and instead of being able to watch them minutes at a time all one sees of them is a small brown object slipping out of sight into cover when disturbed.
(299) Schœniparus dubius genestieri.
Rippon's Tit-Babbler.
- Alcippe genestieri Oustalet, Bull. Mus. d'Hist. Nat., Paris, iii, p. 210 (1897) (Tsékao).
Vernacular names. Prep-dor (Kachin),
Description. Differs from S. d. dubius in having the forehead pale rufous; the crown is golden-brown with very faint dark edges to the feathers; the upper plumage is olive-brown and the sides of the neck are not streaked.
Colours of soft parts as in S. d. dubius.
Measurements. Wing 58 to 61 mm.; tail about 60 mm.; tarsus 21 mm.; culmen 11 mm.
Distribution. Kachin and Bhamo Hills, Yunnan, Shan States and S.W. China.
Rothschild has shown (Nov. Zool. xxviii, p. 36) that intermedius is not separable from genestieri and with this I agree, but the former sometimes has quite plain indications of the neck-stripes as in mandellii and as we should expect in that part of its range nearest that race.
Nidification. Resembles that of the last bird. Harington, Grant and others took many nests in March, April and May between 4,000 and 6,000 feet. The eggs are indistinguishable from those ot the last two birds and measure about 19·9 × 15·5 mm.
Habits differ in no way from those of the Assam Tit-Babbler.
