248 TIMALIID®. 
The eggs, either three or four in number, are perfect miniatures 
of the dull-coloured eggs of the Dayal or Magpie-Robin. The 
‘ ground-colour is a pale “greenish grey, and the markings consist 
of numerous freckles and small blotches of pale reddish brown 
and secondary markings of lavender and purplish grey, scattered 
over the whole surface. The texture is fine and close, faintly 
glossed and the shape is a broad, blunt oval. Two hundred eggs 
average 20°3 x 15-7 mm. 
Habits. Tickell’s Babbler is a timid, skulking bird, haunting 
low brushwood or practically any efficient cover. As a rule all 
one sees is a small brown object squatting on the ground, which 
suddenly dives into the nearest bush. They feed much on the 
ground and are so loath to fly that even trapped birds, when 
released, flew on to the ground and then made off in long, 
bounding leaps. The only note I have heard is a soft, rippling 
“* chir-chir.” 
(253) Pellorneum tickelli assamensis. 
AvustEen’s BABBLER. 
Drymocataphus assamensis Sharpe, Cat. B, M., vil, p. 557 (1883) 
(Dikrang) ; Blanf, & Oates, 1, p. 147. 
Vernacular names. None recorded. 
Description. Differs from Tickell’s Babbler in being a rufescent 
olive-brown above, the crown and mantle more conspicuously 
white-shafted. 
Colours of soft parts as in the last bird. 
Measurements. Much the same as in the last. Wing 64 to 
67 mm.; tail 50 to 55 mm. 
Distribution. Eastern Assam, North and South of the Brahma- 
putra. 
Nidification similar to that of teckelli, but a larger assortment 
of materials are to be found in the nests. The favourite building- 
sites are in rocky ravines with bush-covered sides, and the nests 
are often placed actually on the ground. One hundred eggs average 
199X157 mm. In colour they are much like those ‘of the last 
bird but are duller and a series shows a much more olive-grev tint. 
Habits. Common all the year round from about 700 feet 
upwards, otherwise its habits, haunts and food all agree well 
with those of the last bird. Godwin-Austen records this little 
Babbler as being very fearless, but those seen by Dr. H. N. 
Coltart and myself were very shy. 
Genus CURSONIA Skinner, 1898. 
Oates’s name Gypsophila being preoceupied. Cussonia is the 
next available and must be used in its place. The genus contains 
one species only which is in many ways one of the most aberrant 
