334. Hypsipetes amaurotis

334. BROWN-EARED BULBUL.
HYPSIPETES AMAUROTIS.
Hypsipetes amaurotis (Temm.), Pl. Col. ii. pl. 497 (1820-39) ; (id. and Schlegel), Faun. Jap. Aves. p. 68, pl. XXXI B ; David and Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 135 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. vi. p. 42.
Hiyodori, Jap.
Male ad. (Japan). Upper parts slate-grey, the head silvery grey, the lower back and rump washed with olive ; wings brown margined with fulvous brown, the inner secondaries with grey ; lesser wing-coverts slaty grey ; tail brown, margined with grey ; lores blackish ; ear-coverts chestnut ; cheeks and throat hoary grey tipped with whitish ; neck and breast ashy brown spotted with white ; sides of breast grey ; flanks reddish brown spotted with white ; lower abdomen dull white ; under tail-coverts brown margined with white ; bill black ; legs purplish brown ; iris dark hazel. Culmen 1.2, wing 5.2, tail 4.9, tarsus 0.9 inch. Sexes similar.
Hab. Japan. Corea, and Eastern China, breeding in Northern Japan, and in the mountains in Southern Japan, and wintering on the plains.
It does not differ in habits appreciably from the other Bulbuls. It breeds from early in May to the end of July, and places its nest in a low tree or a bush, constructing it of twigs, moss, and coarse roots, lining it with fine roots. The eggs, usually 4 in number, are said to be in size about equal to those of Turdus merula, but are pinkish white, with purplish grey underlying shell-markings and reddish brown surface-spots.