216 TIMALIID^. 



Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the last bird. 



Distribution. Tonngoo and Karen Hills, Yamethen, Upper 

 Burma. 



Nidification and HaMts. Nothing,- recorded. 



This and the hist bird are undoubtedly onlv races of P. ferrugi- 

 nosus, although the extremes of difference between birds from 

 Nepal and birds from the Karen Hills are very great. 



Pomatorhinus ruficollis. 



J\e)/ to Sabspi'cies. 



A. Upper plumage ruddy biowu P. r. nrficolUs, p. 216. 



B. Upper plumage olive-brown P. r. b(i1;eri, p. 217. 



(214) Pomatorhinus ruficollis ruficollis. 



The Nepal Kufous-xeckei) Scimitae-Babbler. 



Pomatorht77U)< rvJicolUs Hodgs., As. Res., xix, p. 182(1836) (Nepal); 

 Blauf. & Gates, i, p. 122. 



Vernacular names. Bldakaroh (Parbnttiabs). 



Description. Upper plumage, tail and closed wing ruddy 

 brown ; a broad white superciliuui from the nostrils to tlie nape; 

 lores, under tlie eyes and ear-coverts black ; sides of the neck 

 bright ferruginous, extending to the hind neck aud forming a 

 collar ; chin, cheeks and throat white ; lower throat, breast and 

 centre of abdomen wliite streaked with olive-brown ; sides of 

 abdomen and breast, vent and inider tail-coverts olive-brown. 



Colours of soft parts. Bill yellow, pale at the tip and witli 

 three-quarters of the culmen nearly bhack ; iris pale red to crim- 

 son ; eyelid plumbeous; feet pale brownish plumbeous, pale 

 greyish or greenish ])lumbeous ; claws brownish horny. 



Measurements. Length about 105 to 20.5 mm.; wing 78 to 

 84 mm. ; tail about 83 mm. ; tarsus about 27 uim. ; culmen about 

 20 mm. 



Young nestlings have the whole breast rusty red. The bill is 

 entirely yellow. 



Distribution. Himalayas, Nepal to Eastern Assam, North of 

 the Brahmaputra. 



Nidification. Tliis Scimitar-Babbler breeds from the end of 

 April to June from 4,000 to 0,000 feet, uiaking the usual ball- 

 shaped nest of grass, bracken and fern fronds, etc., placed on the 

 ground in grass, weeds or biish nudergrowtli. The egcs vary from 

 three to five aud are white like all other Sciuiitar- Babblers but 

 have very little gloss. Fifty eggs average about 23"6x 18*0 mm. 



Habits. The Rufous-necked Scimitar-Babbler frequents eleva- 

 tions between 3,000 and 6,000 feet, beiug found still lower in 

 winter and higher in suuimer. Tt keeps much to forest with 

 plentiful undergrowth, but also may be sometimes found on hill- 

 sides covered mainly with long grass and bushes. 



