POMATORHINUS. 207 
two birds constantly utter as they wander about hunting for food. 
They keep much to low jungle, secondary growth and bamboo- 
jungle and also feed on the ground, turning over the leaves and 
rubbish just as the true Laughing-Thrushes do. 
(200) Pomatorhinus schisticeps cryptanthus. 
CoLrart’s ScIMITAR- DABBLER. 
Pomatorhinus schisticeps cryptanthus Hartert, Bull. B. O. C., xxxvi, 
p- 85 (1915) (Margherita, Assam). 
Vernacular names. Dao buleu-galao (Cachari). 
Description. Differs from the last in having the upper parts 
less olive and more rufescent, the red of the neck and flanks a 
brighter, lighter chestnut and, according to Hartert, it is a trifle 
smaller. 
Colours of soft parts. Asin the last bird; the iris is often a 
golden yellow. 
Measurements. A. little smaller than schisticeps; wing 94 to 
102 mm. 
Distribution. Hills South of the Brahmaputra from the Mikir 
Hills and Cachar to Margherita. 
Nidification similar to that of P. s. schisticeps, breeding from 
about 2,000 feet upwards to at least 5,000 feet but principally 
about 4,000 feet. It builds its nest often in bamboo-jungle and 
also in scrub, edges of cultivation and in forest, especially when 
there are open glades and streams with grassy banks. The 
eggs number three or four, very rarely five and sixty eggs average 
about 26°619°2 mm. The breeding season lasts from the end 
of April to late July. 
Habits. Those of the last bird; this race, however, is not a 
noisy bird and, unless alarmed or excited over some special find, 
one seldom hears more than a secret low, chuckling note and the 
usual call of ‘ hoot-hoot-hoot.” It is, of course, a poor flyer like 
all the Scimitar-Babblers but I should not call it a skulker as it 
often feeds practically in the open bamboo-jungles, where it is very 
easy to watch it. It can hop at a great pace, proceeding in long 
bounds and when so engaged might easily be mistaken for a 
frightened rat. Its food is principally insectivorous, but possibly 
it also eats grain and seeds. 
(201) Pomatorhinus schisticeps mearsi, 
GRANT’s SLATY-HEADED Scrmirar-BaBBLER. 
Pomatorhinus mearst Ogilvie-Grant, Bull. B. O. C., xv, p. 35 (1905) 
(Taungdwin), 
Vernacular names. None recorded. 
Description. This race has the chestnut still paler than in 
