DUMETIA, 229 
Nidification. The Itufous-bellied Babbler breeds from early 
June to the end of August and early September, making a ball- 
shaped nest of grass and bamboo leaves, lined with finer grass or 
a little hair, sometimes with no lining at all; in size it varies 
in diameter from 5 to 6 inches. Often the nest is placed in, or 
at the foot of, a clump of bamboos, at other times in grass, 
bushes or cactus hedges. The eggs number three or four, and 
are in shape short, blunt ovals with a smooth and rather glossy 
texture. The sround is white varying occasionally to pink, and 
they are rather profusely marked all over with specks and blotches 
of light reddish to dark brown, generally more numerous at the 
larger end. Fifty eggs average 17-3 x 13°8 mm. 
Habits. This little bird is a typical Babbler in all its ways. 
Though much more shy than the “ Seven-Sisters ” group, it has 
the same gregarious, cheerful habits, the same follow-my-leader 
stvle of clambering along from one tuft of grass or one bush to 
another and, like those birds, is very conversational and argumenta- 
tive, though it indulges in softer notes and fewer quarrels. It 
prefers mixed scrub and grass, or grass alone, to other haunts, 
but may also be found in bhamboo-jungle and thin forest or 
secondary growth. 
Fig. 40.—Head of D. a. alhigularis. 
(230) Dumetia albigularis albigularis. 
THE OMALE WHITE-THROATED BABBLER. 
Malacocereus i GOA Blyth, J. A. 8. B., xvi, p. 453 (1847) 
(Mysore). 
Dumetia albigularis. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 154. 
Vernacular names. Pandi-jitta (Tel.) ; Batitchia (Ceylon). 
Description. Similar to the last, but with a pure white throat. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris white to pale grey; bill fleshy, 
horny-brown on culmen; legs and feet pale fleshy or livid fleshy : 
claws horny. 
Measurements. otal length about 150 to 155 mm.; wing 52 to 
56 wm.; tail about 57 to 64 mm.; tarsus about 18 mm.; culmen 
about 12 to 13 mm. 
Distribution. Ceylon and South-West India as far North as 
Belgaum. 
Nidification. In Ceylon this little Babbler has two breeding 
seasons, and Mr. Wait has taken eggs from November to March 
