Descri2)tive List of Birds 



Forehead, crown, nape and shoulders ashy 

 brown, streaked with black. Lower back 

 reddish-brown, with white streaks. Cheeks, 

 chin, throat and breast chestnut. Wings and 

 tail reddish-brown. The tail has a black band 

 across it near the tip. The tip of the tail is 

 grey. A greyish-white ring round the eye. 



This is the common babbler of the western 

 hill stations, where it takes the place of the 

 " seven sisters " of the plains. They often 

 visit gardens. They sometimes nest in gardens. 

 Occasionally two or three of them will hold 

 squeaking competitions. Their movements are 

 jerky, like those of the " seven sisters." 



24. Grammatoptila striata : The Striated 

 Laughing-Thrush. F. loi, J. 382, +IIL E. 

 W. 



The plumage of this fine bird is mainly 

 umber-brown, each feather having a bold, 

 white, median streak. The tail is chestnut and 

 there is some chestnut in the wing. 



Not often seen below 7000 feet in the Western 

 Himalayas, but at DarjeeHng it occurs from 

 6000 feet upwards. As Jerdon remarks, it is 

 more often heard than seen. One of its calls 

 resembles the clucking of a hen that has just 

 laid an Qgg, 



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