BIRDS OF ETHIOPIA AND KENYA COLONY 99 



Table 16. — Measurements of 58 specimens of Argya rubiginosa rubiginosa — Con. 



This babbler is a characteristic inhabitant of the bushy thickets, 

 where it goes about in small flocks and where its drawn-out notes are 

 among the most noticeable of the chorus of avian sounds. 



Erlanger ^* writes that the breeding season is very prolonged, last- 

 ing from early in March until June — so prolonged that one might con- 

 sider the birds double-brooded. The nests are built of grasses and 

 leaves, lined with grass heads, and are placed in the dense bushes. 

 This bird is one of the chief victims of the pied cuckoo {Clamatof 

 jacohinus jacohinus). Erlanger found two nests, both with eggs of 

 this cuckoo, one on March 26 at Kata and one on June 8 at Webi- 

 Shebelli. Another nest, found on June 10 in the Hawash region, 

 contained three eggs of the babbler and none of the cuckoo. 



Besides the actual specimens collected, Mearns recorded seeing this 

 bird as follows : At the Abaya Lakes, March 19-26, 36 seen ; between 

 the Abaya Lakes and Gardula, March 26-29, 50 birds; Gato River, 

 March 29-May 17, 500; Anole village. May 18, 100; Sagon River and 

 Bodessa, May 19-June 6, 1,200 seen; Tertale, June 7-12, 150; El Ade, 

 June 12-13, 20 birds ; Mar Mora, June 14-15, 75 ; Turturo, June 15-17, 

 20 noted; Wobok, June 18, 25 birds; Saru, June 19, 20 seen; Yebo, 

 June 20, 10; Karsa Barecha, June 21, 100; Malata, June 22, 30 seen; 



«* Journ. fiir Orn., 1905, p. 739. 



