PHLLORNEUM. 241 
Nidification. Mandelli’s Babbler breeds from March to May, a 
second brood being very often found from May to July or even 
August. Their favourite elevation is between 2,000 and 3,000 feet 
and their favourite country bamboo-jungle, the lightest of grass or 
scrub undergrowth, or poor secondary growth in deserted culti- 
vation ; more rarely their nests may be found in undergrowth of 
forests. Wherever found the nests are always on the ground 
Fig. 43.—Head of P. 7. mandellii. 
unless in bamboo clumps a few inches to 2 or 3 feet above 
it. They are made of grass and bamboo leaves, or of the latter 
alone merely lined with grass and in shape are large oval balls. 
Sometimes, when the fallen leaves lie so thick as to completely 
hide the nest, this is merely a deep cup or semi-domed affair and 
I have seen such buried deep in piles of bamboo leaves and dead 
grass. They are very fond of placing their nests at the edge of 
elephant or gaur tracks, where it seems a wonder they can escape 
being trampled on. The eggs, three or four in number, are like 
those of P. 7, ruficeps, but are perhaps rather more richly marked 
on the whole. 200 eggs average 22-4x16°3mm.; maxima 
24:19 x 17-1 and 21'7 xX 18°8 mm. ; minima 20°5 x 16°1 and 20°6 x 
15:3 mm. 
Habits. During the winter this little Babbler goes about either 
in pairs or family parties of five or six, frequenting the kind of 
cover described above. They are very restless, energetic birds, 
constantly on the move and keeping up a never-ending chatter 
amongst themselves. They feed both on the ground and on 
bushes and grass, and from their partiality to thin cover are easy 
to watch as long as one keeps perfectly still, but a movement of 
hand or foot sends them scuttling off into denser cover, whence 
they loudly expostulate against the disturber. They have many 
sweet notes as well as harsh ones, but their prevailing note is that 
of the genus, a constantly repeated “ pretty-dear, pretty-dear.” 
(244) Pellorneum ruficeps jonesi. 
Toe Western Sporren BaBBier. 
Pellorneum ruficeps jonest Stuart Baker, Bull. B. O. C. xli, p. 9 
(1920) (Kalka), 
Vernacular names. None recorded. 
Description. Differs from Mandelli’s Babbler in having the 
general tone of plumage more brown and less olive; the cap is 
VOL, I, R 
