192 TIMALIID A. 
tana to Bengal, south to Orissa, across to about the latitude of 
Bombay. 
Nidification. The Jungle-Babbler breeds principally in June 
and July after the break of the monsoon, but odd nests with eggs 
may be found any time from March to September. They are 
built of grass, leaves, roots, etc., carelessly bound together with 
weeds, twigs and tendrils, and lined with erass or roots, and they 
may be placed in any kind of bush or tree at heights of a few 
inches only to 30 feet from the ground. The usual number 
of eggs is tour, but Inglis has taken seven from the same nest, all 
apparently Z'urdoides eggs, and not those of the Common Hawk- 
Cuckoo or Pied Cuckoo, both of which victimize this Babbler very 
freely. It is sometimes difficult to tell the Cuckoos’ eggs from 
those of their fosterers, but as a rule they are much less glossy, 
a softer, more satiny texture and more elliptical in shape. ‘The 
Babblers’ eggs are typically a deep Hedge-sparrow blue, intensely 
glossy, and 100 eggs average about 25-2 x 19°6 mm. 
Habits. The “ Seven Sisters” have obtained this name from 
the fact that they go about in flocks of six to a dozen, but very 
frequently numbering exactly seven, and their sisterhood or 
brotherhood they show by the manner in which each individual 
resents any interference from outside to any of the party yet 
retains full liberty to argue, disagree and fight with any one or 
all of the other six. They are noisy, hysterical and active birds 
so long as they are not forced to fly, and anything out of the 
common at once attracts their attention and calls forth a babel of 
comment and assertion which rises crescendo until something else 
diverts them. Their excitement seems to be equally intense and 
voluble whether caused by some mere insect or by the murder of 
one of their party by a Hawk. They may be scattered at the 
moment, but within a second or two all have taken a few pro- 
digious hops and have collected together either to discuss the 
object of interest or to defend the member in danger. They are 
very brave birds, and when attacked throw themselves on their 
back and ficht with bill and claws, whilst their comrades throw 
themselves with fury on the assailant, whether cat, hawk or some 
smaller vermin. They seem to prefer the vicinity of humanity to 
the wilds, but are found over their whole range where the country 
is sufficiently, yet not too, densely wooded. 
(184) Turdoides terricolor malabaricus. 
Tuer SouTHERN JUNGLE-BABBLER. 
Malacocercus malabaricus Jerd., B. of L., ii, p. 62 (1877) (Malabar). 
Vernacular names. Pedda sida (Tel.). 
Description. Differs from the northern bird in being very 
much darker both above and below, most noticeably so on the 
