POMATOKHIXUS. 211 



Colours of soft parts. Iris brown, maroon-brown or crimson ; 

 legs find feet greenisli plumbeous ; bill yellow, dusky at base of 

 lower mandible. 



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

 100 to 105 mm. ; tail about 105 to 108 mm. ; tarsus about 32 mm. ; 

 culmen about 25 mm. 



Distribution. Bombay, Mahabaleshwar, Khandalla, Kanara and 

 the plains of M\ sore, Madras and the Deccan. 



Nidification. This 8cimifar-Babbler breeds from January to 

 May in broken (;ountry and low hills up to about 2,000 feet as 

 well as in tlie actual plains, making the usual grass, domed nest, 

 "which it places on the grouud in grass and bushes, or in foi-est. 

 The eggs apparentl}^ sometimes number as many as live, but two 

 •or three are the normal clutch. Twenty-four eggs average 26"6 x 

 18'3 mm. 



Habits. Those of the genus. This is a subspecies of the low 

 •country, it being represented by other races in the higher hills. 



(207) Pomatorhinus horsfieldi obscurus. 



Hume's SciiiiTAii-BABBLEu. 



PoviatovJdniis obsoirus Hume, S. F., i, p. 7 (1873) (Mt. Abu) ; Blanf. 

 & Gates, i, p. 120. 



Vernacular names. Namcda Pitta or Dasari Pitta (Tel.). 



Description. A much paler bird than the last, with no black 

 band separating the white of the breast from the upper plumage, 

 the hides of the neck and breast being practically the same colour 

 as the back. 



Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in true horsfieldi. 



Distribution. So far only recorded from Mt. Abu and 8eoni. 



Nidification. Similar to that of the other races. Fiv^e eggs sent 

 me from Mt. Abu measure about 23-0 x 17*5 mm. 



Habits as in the last, but perhaps does not frequent such dense 

 jungles. Its range of elevation still requires to be carefully 

 worked out together with its full distribution. Butler says that 

 it is not gregarious, but goes about either singly or in pairs. 



(208) Pomatorhinus horsfieldi travancoriensis. 



Tnii SuUTHEEN Indian SciMrrAii-BABBLEu. 



PomatoyJtiinis horsfie/dl fravancoriensis Harington, J. B. N, 11. S., 

 xxiii, p. '"ioo (lUl-1) (Tnivancure). 



Vernacular names. Namala pitta (Tel.). 



Description, ^iuch darker than typical horsfieldi; back a rich 

 •olive-brown, head decidedly darker tlian back and often blotched 

 •with black. AVliite of breast and abdomen divided from brown of 



