204 TIMALIID 2. 
(198) Acanthoptila nipalensis. 
Tur Spryy BABBLER. 
Timalia nipalensis Hodgs., As. Res., xix, p. 182 (1836) (Nepal). 
Acanthoptila nepalensis. Blanf. & Oates, 1, p, 386. 
Vernacular names. None recorded. 
Description. The whole upper plumage, tail and visible portions 
of the wings rich olive-brown, the feathers of the head and back 
with stiff, black shafts; tail cross-rayed darker; lores and the 
feathers behind aud below the eyes whitish; ear-coverts brown, 
mixed with white ; lower plumage rufescent, each feather with a 
dark brown shaft-stripe, these increasing in size on breast and 
abdomen; under tail-coverts and flanks plain rufescent brown. 
Some birds, including specimens killed in summer, have the 
lower part of head, chin and throat white with glistening shafts, 
and the lower plumage is paler. According to Oates this is the 
summer plumage, but there is too little evidence at present either 
to confirm or refute this suggestion. 
Colours of soft parts. Bill dusky brown; legs dull fleshy- 
brown; iris smoky-brown (//odgson, MS.). 
Measurements. Length about 250 to 260 mm.; tail about 125 
to 130 mm.; wing 85 to 90 mm.; tarsus about 30 mm.; culmen 
about 18 to 19 min. 
Distribution. Nepal and Sikkim and ? N.W. Himalayas. 
Nidification. According to Hodgson this Babbler makes a loose, 
shallow grass nest, about 5’ in diameter by about 2” deep, which 
it places in a fork of a tree. The eggs are said to be verditer-blue 
and to measure about 23x 16°5 mm. Eggs in my own collection 
reputed to be of this bird are quite different and in type more 
like those of Megalurus. The ground is white and they are pro- 
fusely speckled and spotted with brown and underlying spots of 
pale neutral tint on purplish lavender. They measure about 
22x17 mm. Their identification is not satisfactory and more 
information is very badly required about the bird and its life- 
history. 
Habits. Hodgson says that this bird is solitary, tenants low 
