POMATOHniNUS. 207 



two birds constantly utter as thej^ wander about bunting for food. 

 Tbey keep much to low jungle, secoiuinry growth and bamboo- 

 junj>'le and also feed on the ground, turning over tbe leaves and 

 rubbisb just as the true Laughing-Thrushes do. 



(200) Pomatorhinus schisticeps cryptanthus. 



COLTABX'S ScIMITAK-BaBBLER. 



Pomatorhinns schisticeps cryptanthus liaitert, Bull. B. O. C, xxxvi, 

 p. i)5 (191-j) ^ Marghei-ita, Assam). 



Vernacular names. Bao hul-a-(/al(io (Cachari). 



Description. Differs from the last in baving tbe upper parts 

 less olive and more rufescent, the red of tbe net-k and flanks a 

 brighter, ligbter chestnut and, according to Hartert, it is a trifle 

 smaller. 



Colours of soft parts. As in the last bird ; the iris is often a 

 golden yellow. 



Measurements. A. little smaller than scJiistice2'>s; wing 94 to 

 102 mm. 



Distribution. Hills South of tbe Brahmaputra from tlie Mikir 

 Hills and Cacliar to Margberita. 



Nidification similar to that of P. s. schisticeps, breeding from 

 about 2,000 feet upwards to at least 5,000 feet but principally 

 about 4,000 feet. It builds its nest often in bamboo-jungle and 

 also in scrub, edges of cultivation and in forest, especially wbeu 

 there are open glades and streams with grassy banks. Tbe 

 eggs number three or four, very rarel^y five and sixty eggs average 

 about 26"G X 19'2 mm. The breeding season lasts from the end 

 of April to late July. 



Habits. Those of the last bird ; this race, however, is not a 

 noisy bird and, unless alarmed or excited over some special find, 

 one seldom bears more than a secret low, chuckling note and the 

 usual call of " hoot-hoot-boot." It is, of course, a poor flyer like 

 all the Scinntar-Babblers but I should not call it a skulker as it 

 often feeds pi\actically in the open bamboo-jungles, where it is very 

 easy to watch it. It can hop at a great pace, proceeding in long 

 bounds and when so engaged might easily be mistaken for a 

 frightened rat. Its food is principally insectivorous, but possibly 

 it also eats grain and seeds. 



(201) Pomatorhinus schisticeps mearsi. 

 Grant's Slaty-headed Scimitar-Babbler. 



Pomatorhinus mearsi Og-ilvie-Grant, Bull. B. 0. C, xv, p. 3-5 (190o) 

 (Taungdwiii). 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. This race has the chestnut still paler than in 



