STAPHIDIA. 311 neither ascending to any lieight in the bigger trees nor frequent- ing the lower slirubs unless frightened, when they dive into the undergrowth and escape by clambering and flitting from one perch to another until they are out of sight. It is not a shy bird and. may be watched at leisure from a few paces, scrambling about in very Tit-like postures and constantly^ uttering a low "chir-chit,chir- chit." It is a very poor flyer and seldom uses its wings for more than a few yards. Those birds examined had fed on aphidae, locust larvje and other insects and also on small hard seeds like mustard seed.
(331) Staphidia striata striata.
Tickell's Staphidia.
- I.niltts .'itnatus BIyth, J. A. S. B., xxviii, p. 413 (1859) (Tenasserim).
- Staphidia striata. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 206.
Vernacular names. None recorded.
Description. General colour above dull olive-brown, the head darker with a greyish tinge, in some specimens a sooty-brown; the feathers of the head, mantle and back with grey shaft-stripes; ear-coverts dull chestnut and sides of the neck suffused with the same; wings and tail the same colour as the back but darker; the three or four outer pairs of tail-feathers broadly tipped with white; under parts dull greyish white.
Colours of soft parts. Iris blood-red brown; bill dark horn-colour; legs reddish-horn.
Measurements. Length about 130 mm.; wing 60 to 63 mm.
Distribution. Tenasserim northwards through the hills of Eastern Burma to Bhamo in the Chin Hills.
Nidification. Very similar to that of the last bird and Mr. S. M. Hobinson records that this species like that form is also much given to nesting in holes in the roadside banks. The nest is like that of the Chestnut-headed Staphidia but more moss is used in its outer walls. The few eggs I have seen are not distinguishable from those of that bird. They measure about 17.7 X 13.7 mm.
Habits. Similar to those of the preceding species.
(332) Staphidia striata rufigenis.
Hume's Staphidia.
- Jxulus nijj(/enis Hume, S. F., v, p. 108 (1877) (Himalayas, Darjeeling).
- Staphidia rufi(ienis. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 206.
Vernacular names. None recorded.
Description. Similar to the last but with the head lighter and more grey and with a distinct white supercilium from eye to back of ear-coverts, above which there is a rufous band.
Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the last bird.
