183. Proparus vinipectus.
The Plain-brown Tit-Babbler.
Siva vinipectus, Hodgs. Ind. Rev. 18S8, p. 89. Leiothrix vinipectus (Hodgs.), Blyth, Cat. p. 100; Horsf. &- M. Cat. i, p. 368. Proparus vinipectus (Hodgs), Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 257 ; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. ii, p. 50; Blanf. J. A. S. B. xli, pt. ii, p. 45; Godw.-Aust. J. A. S. B. xliii, pt. ii, p. 169 ; Hume, N. & E. p. 394; id. Cat. no 622; Oates in Hume's N. E. 2nd ed. i, p. 119. Alcippe vinipectus (Hodgs.), Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vii, p. 619.
The Plain Brown Hill-Thrush, Jerd.
Coloration. Forehead, crown, nape, back, and scapulars vinous brown; lores dusky; a very broad white supercilium to the nape, bordered above by a black band reaching beyond the nape, which tends to meet its fellow on the upper back; rump and upper wing and tail-coverts ferruginous ; tail brown, washed with ferruginous on the base and the outer webs; the earlier primaries edged with hoary grey, the next few entirely black on the outer webs, the remaining quills ferruginous on the outer webs; ear-coverts and cheeks vinous brown like the crown ; chin, throat, and upper breast white, with indistinct dusky streaks; lower breast vinous; abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts fulvous.
Bill and legs fleshy brown (Jerdon); iris dark brown (Hume Coll.); iris pale ochre; legs and feet pale umber-grey (Godw.-Aust.); iris yellow, with a reddish tinge; legs livid; bill dusky above, livid below (Blanf.).
Length about 4.8; tail 2.2; wing 2.3; tarsus .9; bill from gape .5.
Distribution. The Himalayas from the Sutlej valley to Sikhim up to elevations of 11,000 feet or more ; Japvo peak, Burrail range at 9000 feet.
Habits, &c. Of this bird nothing is recorded except the nidification. It breeds in Sikhim in May and June, constructing a cup-shaped nest of grass and bamboo-leaves in the branches of dense brushwood not much above the ground. One egg described by Hume was pale green with sepia marks, and measured .73 by .55.
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