196 TIMALIID.i;. 



Bolgodole measure 24'lxl8-0 mm. and 23-3 x 17-9 mm. Two 

 taken for me by Mr. W. A. T. Kellow measure 24-2 x 18-1 mm. 

 and 24-0 >< 17*8 mm. They cannot be distinguished from those 

 of striatns. 



Habits. The Ceylouese Babbler seem.s to be a bird of the forest 

 and jungle rather than a frequenter of village scrub aud open 

 country. Mr. W. Phillips informs me that it is not uucommon in 

 the Matagaina district but that it keeps much to forest. 



(190) Turdoides cinereifrons. 



The AsHY-iiEAUED Babbler. 



Garrulax cinereifrous^\\th, J. A. S. B., xx, p. 176 (1851) (Cpylon). 

 Crateropus cinereifrons. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 114. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Forehead, crown and sides of the head cinereous, 

 shading off on the nape into the bright reddish brown which is the 

 colour of the whole upper plumage, tail and visible portions of the 

 wings, except the outer v.eb.s of the first few primaries which are 

 paler ; chin whitish ; remainder of lower plumage ruFous-brown, 

 darker on the flanks and under tail-coverts. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris white ; eyelid plumbeous ; bill black ;, 

 inside of mouth greenish yellow ; legs and feet plumbeous brown ; 

 claws dusky-horuy {Legge). 



Measurements. Length about! 250 to 260 mm.; wing 121 to 

 128 mm.; tail about 105 to 110 mm.; tarsus 38 uim. ; culinen 

 about 20 to 22 mm. 



Distribution. Ceylon only, up to about 2,500 feet. 



Nidification. Unknown. 



Habits. This bird is a typical Babbler in its noisy, gregarious 

 habits, but it is confined to dense forests where it is always damp 

 and gloomy. 



Genus ARGYA Lesson, 1831. 



This genus differs from Turdoides in its longer tail and in its 

 longer, more slender bill. The wing also is not so rounded, the 

 third quill being longest or subequal with the fourth. The tail is 

 longer and more graduated, the outermost feathers being about 

 half the length of the central ones. Argya longirosiris has a bill 

 longer than the other species but is otherwise congeneric. 



Key to Species and Sidispecies. 



A. Head and back distinctly streaked with 

 blacldsb or very dark brown. 

 a. Chin and throat rufous with dark shaft- 

 stripes A. earlii, p. 197. 



