POMATORHINUS. 219' 



growth. Little is known about it, and even its distribution east- 

 wards is still a matter of doubt. 



(218) Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps stenorhynclms. 



Austen's Scimitar- Babbler. 



Punuttorliimis stenorhynchus Blytli, J. A. S. B., xlvi, p. 4-3 (1877) 

 (Siidiy.a) ; Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 128. 



Vernacular names, Inrui-gna (Kacba Naga). 



Description. Differs from /'. o. oehraceicej>s iu being much paler 

 and less richly coloured througliout. The flanks and abdomen 

 are tinged with rufous-buff. 



Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the last. 



Distribution. Hills 8outli of the Brahmaputra from N.E.Cachar 

 and Xaga Hills to extreme East Assam and >Sadiya North of the 

 Brahmaputra. 



Nidification. Similar to that of other Scimitar-Babblers. Of 

 the few nests taken in N. Cacliar some were placed on the ground 

 and some on bushes or tangles of vines and creepers a few feet 

 above it. The eggs numbered three or four, generally the latter, 

 and rarely five, and were, like those of P. o. austeni, longer in 

 proportion to their size than tliose of most of the genus, thirty 

 eggs averaging 25-2 x 18'3 mm. They are also rather more fragile 

 in texture. All the nests were found in forest, but generally close 

 to a jungle-path, sti-eam or open glade. The breeding season 

 appears to be from the middle of May to early July. 



Habits. I found this Scimitar-Babbler iu i)airs only, haunting 

 wet, cool forests with a fair amount of undergroAVth, but not the 

 dense scrub and grass so beloved by some of its nearest relations. 

 It was, comparatively speaking, a very quiet bird, each of the pair 

 uttering from time to time its soft, full " hoot hoot " or a pleasant 

 whistling chuckle. Like the rest of their tribe, they spend most 

 of the tinie on the ground turning over the leaves and debris 

 in search of food but, according to the Nagas, when the various 

 figs are ripe they work high up into these trees in quest of the 

 insects which infest the fruit. It is a bird of high levels, from 

 5,000 feet upwards to at least 9,000 feet in the Naga Hills. 



Pomatorhinus erythrogenys. 



Ivei/ to Sahsjjecles. 



A. Flanks deep rufous. 



a. Breast almost pure wliite. 



«'. Wing over 89 mm P.e. erythrogenys, p. 220. 



h' . Wing under 89 mm P. e. imberhis, p. 222. 



b. Breast pale grey, streaked withAvhite. P. e. Jidringtoni, p. 220. 



c. Breast white, streaked witli black . . P. e. yravivox, p. 221. 



B. Flanks olivaceous P. e. vmcclellandi, p. 221. 



