Descriptive List of the Common Birds 



(Does not appear to occur in or about the 

 towns of Bombay and Madras.) (Illus. B. C, 

 p. 10, but the illustration is not a good one, a 

 better idea is given in F. I., p. lo, where an 

 allied species is figured.) 



The Babblers, 6-10 



6. Argya caudata : The Common Babbler, 

 or Striated Bush-babbler, or Rat-bird. (F. 



105), (J- 438), (II.). 



A dingy brown bird ; upper plumage darker 

 than the lower. In each feather there is a 

 dark line along the shaft which causes the bird 

 to have a streaked appearance. It goes about 

 in pairs, or in small flocks. It feeds largely on 

 the ground. When it runs, its tail (which is 

 about 4i inches long, i.e. half the total length 

 of the bird) seems to trail on the ground like 

 that of a rat, hence one of its names. Its note 

 is not unpleasant. It nests chiefly in the hot 

 weather. The nursery is a neatly constructed 

 cup, which is invariably placed in a low bush. 

 Its eggs are pale blue. 



Does not appear to occur in the neighbour- 

 hood of Calcutta, Bombay, or Madras. Ad- 

 dicted to arid parts of India. 



7-9. The Crateropus Babblers, or '^ Seven 

 Sisters:' 



95 



