PELLORNEUM. 239 
Measurements. Length about 160 to 170 mm.; wing 72 to 
76 mm.; tail 64 to 67 mm.; tarsus about 26 mm. ; culmen about 
17 to 18 mm. 
Distribution. The Indian Peninsula south of Khandesh and the 
hills of Chota Nagpur. Cachar birds formerly identified for me 
as ruficeps are nearer minus, but the normal birds of this part of 
Assam are mandellii, Birds of S.W. India from Coorg, Wynaad, 
S.W. Mysore and Travancore belong to the race called grant. 
Nidification. This bird breeds in March, April and May, 
making a very rough globe-shaped nest of leaves and grass, very 
flimsy and fragile and, according to Miss Cockburn, often a mere 
canopy for the eggs, which rest on fallen leaves and rubbish. Tt 
is invariably placed on the ground and generally under shelter of 
a stone or bush. The eggs are either two or three in number 
and in shape broad, regular oyals. The general colour is a very 
pale greenish or yellowish white, profusely speckled and freckled 
all over with reddish brown and underlying spots of pale grey 
and neutral tint. They average about 21°1 x 16-3 mm. 
Habits. The Spotted Babbler is found from about 2,000 feet up 
to some 6,000 feet or higher, descending iower in the winter but 
not apparently breeding. According to Miss Cockburn and 
Jerdon it goes about in small flocks when not nesting, but other 
observers record it as being found in pairs or singly. It haunts 
scrub-jungle and secondary growth and also undergrowth in tree- 
forest, not ascending into trees but, on the other hand, often 
hopping about on the ground in search of its insect food. It 
keeps up a constant chatter and has a wide variety of notes, 
occasionally loud and discordant but for the most part soft and 
often sweet and pleasing. It is a shy bird and shuns observation. 
(241) Pellorneum ruficeps subochraceum. 
THe Matay Sporren Baperer. 
Pellorneum subochraceum Swinh., A. M.N, H., (4) vii, p. 259 (1871) 
(Rangoon) ; Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 142. 
Vernacular names. None recorded. 
Description. Very close to the last bird, but has the crown 
chestnut and is smaller, 
Colours of soft parts. “Iris red ; upper mandible dark brown, 
lower yellow at the base, changing to light brown at the tip ; 
Jegs light brownish yellow ” (Oates). 
Measurements. Wing 62 to 68 mm., average about 64 mm. 
Distribution. Lower Burma from Toungoo and the Karen 
Hills to the Malay Peninsula, Annam and Cochin China. 
Nidification. Apparently exactly like that of P. r. mandellii, 
described hereafter. Breeds from March to August, probably 
