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457. :- Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 89 ; Butler, Deccan ; Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 402.

The Grey-headed Bulbul.
 

Length, 7 ; expanse, 9; wing, 3 ; tail, 2.8; tarsus, 0.25 ; bill at front, 0.46.

Bill greenish-horny; irides bluish-white ; legs reddish-yellow.

Crown of head, occiput and throat, bluish-grey; forehead siskin-green; back, wings, and plumage beneath, oil-green, lighter towards the vent; feathers of the rump light yellowish-green, broadly streaked with black; tail with the centre feathers greenish, broadly edged with grey ; lateral feathers black, also grey-edged ; under tail-coverts ligbt-grey.

The Grey-headed Bulbul is not uncommon in the forests southwest of Belgaum. It has not been recorded from any other portion of the region.

It is a permanent resident in the locality indicated.

The Grey-headed Bulbul.

Brachypus poiocephalus, Jerd. Madr. Journ. L. S. x, p. 246 (1839). Brachypodius poiocephalus (Jerd.), Blyth, Cat. p. 212 ; Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 89; Hume, Cat. no. 457 ; Butler, S. F. ix, p. 402; Davison, S. F. x, p. 384; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 186. Micropus phaeocephalus (Jerd.), Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vi, p. 68.

Coloration. Forehead olive-yellow ; chin blackish ; cheeks greyish yellow; remainder of head clear bluish grey; upper side of neck, back, and scapulars olive-green; rump-feathers black with broad pale yellow tips; upper tail-coverts and the four middle tail-feathers bluish grey with dark shafts, the others black, broadly edged on both webs and tipped with bluish grey, the whole suffused with olive-green on the basal two thirds of their Length ; wings black, all the quills and coverts margined with olive-green, the outer webs of the tertiaries being entirely of this colour; breast, abdomen, and flanks oil-yellow; under tail-coverts bluish grey.

Iris blue-grey; bill pale green; legs and feet fleshy tinged orange; claws dusky (Davison).

Length about 7; tail 2.9 ; wing 2.9; tarsus .6; bill from gape .75.

Distribution. The western coast of India from about Anjango in Travancore to the vicinity of Belgaum. This appears to be a rare bird. Jerdon states that it is found from near the sea-level to about 2000 feet of elevation. Davison met with it near Coonoor and in the Wynaad, and Butler records it from the forests southwest of Belgaum.

Wald, ibis, 1871, p. 169, f. 2 ; Salvad. Ucc. Bom. p. 207; Hume and Dav. Str. F. vi. p. 302 ; Hume, Str. F. viii. p. 98 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. vi. p. 74 ; Oates, B. Br. Burmah i. p. 183. Ixos phaeocephalus, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 401. -

The Grey-headed Bulbul.

Entire head from the forehead to the nape dark slaty grey ; lores, ear-coverts and sides of the head pale grey; cheeks, chin and throat white; remainder of lower plumage deep yellow, suffused with olive-green on the flanks and sides of the breast; upper plumage with the wing coverts olive green; tail rufous brown, brighter on the edges of the outer webs; wings brown, the outer webs edged with ruddy olive and the tertiaries wholly of this colour. Legs and feet fleshy white to fleshy pinkish yellow. Bill pale plumbeous; irides snuff brown.

Length. - 7.6 to 8.7 inches ; wing 3.35 to 3.37 ; tail 3.25 to 3.62 ; tarsus 0.75 to 0.8.

Hab. - Sumatra, Borneo and the Malay Peninsula, ranging into the forests in the neighbourhood of Tenasserim. (Sharpe.) Oates says the Grey-headed Bulbul occurs in the extreme south of Tenasserim about Malewoon and Bankasoon, where it appears to be common. They are characterized by a loud harsh note, which is incessantly uttered when the birds are disturbed. They are generally met with in small parties.

Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. vi. p. 68. Brachypus poiocephalus, Jerd., Madr. Journ, x. p. 246. Brachypodius poiocephalus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiv. p. 576; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 89; Hume, Str. F. 1879, p. 98. 

The South Indian or Grey-headed Bulbul.

Lores and forehead olive yellow or siskin green ; crown of head and nape bluish grey; round the eye and ear coverts olive greenish, the latter washed with grey; fore part of cheeks olive yellow, the hinder part grey like the throat, which has a black chin spot; under surface of body yellowish green ; under tail coverts grey ; under wing coverts and axillaries pale yellow; upper surface of body yellowish green ; wing coverts like the back; greater coverts and quills blackish, externally edged with yellowish ; primaries and their coverts narrowly edged with yellowish ; rump barred black, the feathers black with paler olive yellow tips; upper tail coverts bluish grey, washed with yellow; centre tail feathers bluish grey with olive yellow margins, the remainder blackish, tipped with ashy grey and slightly edged with olive yellow.

Bill greenish horn ; legs reddish yellow ; irides bluish white.

Length. - 6.4 to 7 inches; wing 2.8 ; tail 2.6; tarsus 0.65 ; culmen 0.6.

Hab. - South India. Confined, according to Jerdon, to the forests of the Malabar Coast, extending from Travancore to Honore. It is found from near the sea level to 2,000 feet or so of elevation, living in small families and feeding chiefly on small stony fruit.

Brachypodius poiocephalus Jerdon, Madr. Jour. Lit. Sci., vol. x, p. 246, Oct. 1839: Travancore.