248 TIMALIId^. 



The eggs, either three or four in number, are perfect miniatures 

 of the dull-ooloui-ed eggs of the Dayal or Magpie-Eobin. 'Plie 

 ground-colour is a pale greenish grey, and the markings consist 

 of numerous freckles and small blotches of pale x-eddish brown 

 and secondary markings of lavender and purplish grey, scattered 

 over the whole surface. The texture is iine and close, faintly 

 glossed and the shape is a broad, blunt oval. Two hundred eggs 

 average 20'3x 15'7 mm. 



Hahits. Tickell's Babbler is a timid, skulking bird, haunting 

 low brushwood or practically any efficient cover. As a rule all 

 one sees is a small brown object squatting on the ground, which 

 suddenly dives into the nearest bush. They feed much on the 

 ground and are so loath to fly that even trapped birds, when 

 released, flew on to the ground and then made off in long, 

 bounding leaps. The only note I have heard is a soft, rippling 

 " chir-chir." 



(253) Pellorneum tickelli assamensis. 



Afsten's Babbleu. 



Dnimocataphus assamensis Sharpe, Cat. B. 31., vii, p. 557 (1883) 

 (Dikraiig) ; Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 147. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Diff'ers from Tickell's Babbler in being a rvfescent 

 olive-brown above, the crown and mantle more conspicuously 

 white-shafted. 



Colours of soft parts as in the last bird. 



Measurements. Much the same as in the last. Wing 64 to 

 67 mm. ; tail 50 to 55 mm. 



Distribution. Eastern Assam, North and South of the Brahma- 

 putra. 



Nidification similar to that of ticl-elli, but a larger assortment 

 of materials are to be found in the nests. The favourite building- 

 sites are in rocky ravines with bush -covered sides, and the nests 

 are often placed actually on the ground. One hundred eggs average 

 19-9 X 15'7 mm. In colour they are much like those of the last 

 bird but are duller and a series shows a much more olive-grey tint. 



Habits. Common all the year round from about 700 feet 

 upwards, otherwise its habits, haunts and food all agree well 

 with those of the last bird. Godwin-Austen records this little 

 Babbler as being very fearless, but those seen by Dr. H. N. 

 Coltart and myself were very shy. 



Genus CURSONIA Skinner, 1898. 



Oates's name Giipsophila being preoccupied, Cursonia is the 

 next available and must be used in its place. The genus contains 

 one species only which is in many ways one of tlie most aberrant 



