AEGTA, 199 



The principal moiitlis are March to May before the rains break 

 and again in July to September. The nest is a i'airly neat cu]> 

 made oF grass, with roots, grass, bark and otlier fibrous material 

 to a lesser extent mixed with it. There is either no lining or a 

 very sliglit one of fine grass stems. It may be placed in almost any 

 position low down ; generally in a tliorny bush, but also in cactus 

 hedges, orange-trees, babools, tufts of grass, tangles of canes or 

 vines, creepers over trellis-work or any similar site. It measures 

 roughly about 5" x 2|" externally by about 8" x 2", or rather 

 less, inside. The eggs number three or four, in S(juth India 

 sometimes only two. They are of the typical dark glossy-bhie 

 colour common to the genus, in shape broad, blunt ovals, whilst 

 the average of 200 eggs is 21-2 x IB'l mm. 



Habits. In the JN^orth of India this is one of the most common 

 and familiar of birds, entering and breeding in compounds aud all 

 round about villages, but it is found wherever there is open 

 country with sufiicient cover in the way of bushes, hedges and 

 scrub. It does not haunt forests, bnt is often found in liigh grass- 

 covered plains when they are dry. In the South of India it is said 

 to be less confiding \n its habits and rather to shun the vicinity of 

 human beings. Its flight and manners generally are similar to 

 those of the last bird, but it is less noisy. Its voice is described 

 by Jerdon as a " low, undertoned warbling whistle" and it also 

 has a constant soft chattering. 



(193) Arg-ya caudata huttoni. 

 The Afghan Babblek. 

 Malacocerciis huttoni\i\yt\x, J. A. S. B., xvi, p. 476 (1847) (Candahar). 



Vernacnlar names. None recorded. 



Description. Similar to the last bird but much paler and greyer, 

 the central marks less defined and not so dark. It is also "a 

 trifle larger. 



Colours of soft parts as in the last bird. 



Measurements. Wing 83 to 95 mm.; tail 125 to 135 mm. 



Distribution. Afghanistan, Baluchistan and S.E. Persia. A 

 specimen from " the Jay Kiver Hills," Sind, is a very typical 

 example of this race, but other specimens from the plains of Sind 

 are true caudata. I caTinot separate Hume's eclipes. 



Nidification and Habits do not appear to differ from those 

 of the Indian bird. 



(194) Argya gularis. 



The White-throatei) Jjabbler. 



Chatarrhoea ffularis, Blyth, J. A. S. B., xxiv, p. 478 (1855) (E. side 



of Bay of Bengal). 

 Ai-f/ija ffiflaris. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 107. 



Vernacular names. Zaij-ice (Burmese). 



