BABAX, 187 
In Manipur Hume found them frequenting secondary growth in 
deserted clearings, but in N.Cachar they preferred deep, wet forest 
with an undergrowth of bracken, caladiums, jasmine and rasp- 
berries, which grew in dense matted profusion everywhere. In 
bamboo-jungle they were easier to watch, and | often saw them 
hopping about feeding among the fallen leaves, but any movement 
drove them off at once and they took to wing and flew better 
than most of their nearest relations. 
Genus BABAX David, 1876. 
The Babblers of this genus form a connecting-link between 
Trochalopterum and the genera already dealt with and Argy« and 
Turdoides, being on the whole nearer the latter than the 
former group. ‘The wing is short and rounded, the tail long and 
much graduated. The bill is rather slender, slightly curved, and 
in length about equal to, or longer than, hind toe and claw to- 
gether. The rictal bristles are strong and of considerable length, 
and the oval, exposed nostrils are overhung by numerous hairs. 
There are several species of this genus found on the borders of 
the Indian Empire, of which three enter our limits, whilst others 
may possibly be found to do so in extreme Northern Burma when 
the ornithology of that country is better known. 
Key to Species and Subspecies. 
A. Plumage boldly striped above and below. 
a. Wing under 110 mm. ; plumage rufescent. eatisvic 
a’, Throat immaculate buffy white ...... B. 1. lanceolatus, 
b’. Throat white with black shafts to the 
HO DUROUS Petes acta. tihs, o aYccel ober Sleusias steie sis B, 1. victoria, p. 188. 
#°b. Wing over 110 mm.; plumage grey...... B. waddelli, p. 189. 
B. Plumage rufous above and _ below, stripes 
AHSEMHOWOPSOLELO rw sicarosies ose shares cclss B. koslowt, p. 189. 
~ (180) Babax lanceolatus lanceolatus. 
Tur CHINESE BABAX. 
Pterorhinus lanceolatus Verr., Nouv. Arch. Mus. Paris, vi, p. 36 
(1871) (Chinese Tibet). 
Vernacular names. None recorded. 
Description. Crown bright rufous-brown with dark centres to 
the feathers; remainder of upper plumage and wing-coverts 
darker rufescent brown, each feather broadly edged with pale 
fulvous grey, white on sides of neck, almost so on nape and 
darkest on rump ; upper tail-coverts grey with obsolete concealed 
dark centres; tail rufous-brown, duller than crown; lores and 
forehead fulvous, the latter merging into the crown; ear-coverts 
striped white and brown; a broad moustachial streak varying 
from chestnut to almost black; chin, throat and upper breast 
