POMATORHINUS, 213 
Nidification. Breeds in the months November to March, making 
a typical Scimitar-Babbler’s nest and laying two or three pure 
white eggs, indistineuishable from those of other species. It is 
noticeable that the eges of Southern Scimitar-Babblers are more 
regularly elliptical and less pointed oval in shape than are those 
of Northern birds, but every variation is to be found in both. 
Two eges of the present bird measure 23-0 x 17-8 mm. 
Habits. These Babblers associate either in pairs or small flocks, 
haunting any class of thick cover and working both the ground, 
bushes and the lower branches of trees for food. Legge describes 
their habit of indulging in dances and gesticulations, if such a 
term may be applied to birds. ‘Vheir voice, flight and general 
habits are similar to those of the Indian species. 
Pomatorhinus ferruginosus, 
Key to Subspecies. 
A. Crown of head nearly black, much darker 
tian baie lneey Set es cred vent Ol P. f. ferruginosus, p.218, 
a. Breast bright ferruginous ............ P. f. phayrei, p. 214. 
6. Breast pale ferruginous buff ......, oo. Puft albigularis, p. 215. 
c. Breast butty white or very pale buff. ... P. f. marie, p. 215. 
(410) Pomatorhinus ferruginosus ferruginosus. 
THE CoRAL-BILLED Scrmirar-BaBBuer, 
Pomatorhinus ferruginosus Blyth, J. A. 8. B., xiv, p. 597 (1845) 
(Darjeeling) ; Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 120. 
Vernacular names. Piong-/ohut or Poniong-hut (Lepcha) ; 
Lhotetet (Bhut.) ; Peet-gongor (Daphla). 
Description. Forehead rufous ; crown, nape, lores, upper 
cheeks and ear-coverts black; a broad supercilium to the nape, 
chin and lower cheeks white ; upper plumage, tail and visible 
portions of closed wing olive-brown, tinged with rufous; chinand 
throat white; breast and centre of abdomen bright ferruginous ; 
remainder of plumage olive-brown. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris yellow or golden yellow ; bill deep 
coral-red ; legs light yellowish brown, sometimes with a greenish 
or leaden tint. 
Measurements. Length about 220 mm.; wing 90 to 95 mm.; 
tail about 110 mm.; tarsus about 30 mm.; culmen about 27 to 
28 mm. 
Distribution. Himalayas from Nepal to the extreme east of 
Assam, North of the Brahmaputra. 
