244 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY S0CIET7. 



432.— THE BENGAL BABBLER. 



Malacocercus terricolor, Hoclgs. 

 The Bengal Babbler is very common in Sind, and occurs not 

 uncommonly in Guzerat, but becomes rarer further south, where 

 it is replaced by the closely allied Jungle Babbler {Malacocercus 

 malabaricus) . They are permanent residents where found, breeding 

 from March to July, but occasionally nests are found at other 

 seasons (I took a nest containing four eggs in January) ; the nests 

 are cup-shaped, and are, as a rule, loosely constructed, but now and 

 then a more carefully-made nest is met with. They are often found 

 in gardens, placed in forks in fruit trees, bushes, thick hedges, vine- 

 ries, &c. They are composed of ■ grass-roots and stems ; the eggs, 

 three or four in number, are broadish oval in shape, but are subject 

 to considerable variation ; they measure about an inch in length by 

 0* 78 in breadth; they are of a beautiful greenish-blue color, and 

 are generally highly glossy. 



433.— THE WHITE-HEADED [BABBLER. 



Malacocercus griseus, Lath. 



The White-headed Babbler occurs not uncommonly at and near 

 Belgaum, and is common all along the Kanara Coast, and above the 

 Ghats wherever the country is at all open, but does not appear to 

 come much further north. They breed twice a year, from April to 

 June, and again in October and November ; the nest, cup shaped, 

 is composed of fine twigs, grass stems and roots, and is loosely 

 made; it is usually placed in the centre of some small tree or bush; 

 the eggs, three or four in number, are of a deep glossy greenish- 

 blue, quite unspotted. Those in my collection are much deeper in 

 colour than any other Babbler's egg that I am acquainted with, and, 

 although taken many years ago, are still as bright and glossy as at 

 first ; they have not, of course, been exposed to the light. Mr. 

 Davidson says : ( 'Eggs of this Babbler I took in Mysore where the 

 palest Babblers I have ever taken, and others I have taken in 

 Kanara are as deep as malabaricus." 



They measure 0'98 inches in length by about 0"7 in breadth. 

 Kanara, March 8f April. J. Davidson, C.S. 



434.— THE JUNGLE BABBLER. 



Malacocercus malabaricus, Jerd. 

 The Jungle Babbler takes the place of the Bengal Babbler in 

 the southern portion of the Western Presidency. 



