DUAIETIA, 229 



Nidification. The Kufous-bellied Bubbler breeds from early 

 June to the end of August and early September, making a ball- 

 shaped nest of grass and bamboo leaves, liiJed with liner grass or 

 a little hair, sometimes with no lining at all;, in size it varies 

 in diameter from 5 to 6 inches. OFten the nest is ])laced in, or 

 at the foot of, a clump of bamboos, at other times in grass, 

 bushes or cactus hedges. The eggs number three or four, and 

 are in shape short, blunt ovals with a smooth and rather glossy 

 texture. The ground is white varying occasiojially to pink, and 

 they are rather profusely marked all over with specks and blotches 

 of light reddish to dark brown, generally more numerous at tlie 

 larger end. Fifty eggs average 17*3 X 13'8 mm. 



Habits. This little bird is a typical Babbler in all its ways. 

 Though mucli more shy than t!ie " Seven-Sisters " group, it has 

 the same gregarious, cheertul habits, the same follow-my-leader 

 style of clambering along from one tuft of grass or one bush to 

 another and, like those birds, is very conversational and argumenta- 

 tive, though it indulges in softer notes and fewer quarrels. It 

 ])refers mixed scrub and grass, or grass alone, to other haunts, 

 but may also be found in bamboo-jungle and thin forest or 

 secondaiy growth. 



Fig. 40. — Head of B. a. alhigularis. 



(230) Dumetia albigularis albigularis. 



Tub Small AViiite-thboatbd Babbler. 



Malacocevcus albixjularis Blytli, J. A. S. B., xvi, p. 453 (1847) 



(Mysore). 

 Dumetia (dhif/ularis. Blanf. & (3ates, i, p. 134. 



Vernacular names. Pandi-jitta (Tel.) ; Batitdiia (Ceylon). 



Description, Similar to tlie last, but with a pure white throat. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris white to pale grey ; bill fleshy, 

 horny-brown on culmen ; legs and feet pale fleshy or livid fleshy, 

 claws horny. 



Measurements. Total length about 150 to 155 mm. ; wing 52 to 

 56 mm. ; tail about 57 to 64 mm. ; tarsus about 18 mm. ; culmen 

 about 12 to 13 mm. 



Distribution. Ceylon ajul South-West India as far jN'orth as 

 Belgaum. 



Nidification. In Ceylon this little Babbler has two breeding 

 seasons, and Mr. Wait has taken eggs from November to March 



