CURSONIA. QAO 
birds in the Vimaliide In general appearance it is much like 
Pellorneum, differing from that genus in having a stronger bill 
with longer rictal bristles. The upper plumage is squamated, 
each feather being margined with black. Unlike nearly all the 
other members of the family, but like Gampsorhynchus, the adults 
in this genus differ from the young in becoming much more white 
on the head and lower plumage. 
In spite of this peculiarity Oates appears to have properly 
placed it in the Zimaliine,in which I retain it. The wing and 
tail are about equal in length, the former being short and 
rounded. The feathers of the forehead are soft and the rictal 
bristles highly developed; the bill is straight and about as long 
as hind toe and claw together; the nostrils are exposed and 
without overhanging hairs. 
Fig. 45.—Head of C. erispifrons. 
(254) Cursonia crispifrons. 
THe Limr-rock BABBLER. 
Turdinus crispifrons Blyth, J. A.S. B., xxiv, p. 269 (1855) (Tenas- 
serim). 
Gypsophila crispifrons. Blanf. & Oates, 1, p. 149. 
Vernacular names. None recorded. 
Description —Adult. Whole head, neck and lower plumage 
pure white; upper plumage olive-brown, the feathers of the back 
margined witb black; each inner secondary of the wing-quills 
minutely tipped with white. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris pale red, red, light red, deep red- 
brown ; upper mandible dark brown, lower pale plumbeous ; legs, 
feet and claws dark purplish green (Hume Coll.). 
Measurements. Total length about 190 mm.; wing about 
78 to 83 mm.; tail about 74 to 77 mm.; tarsus about 28 mm. ; 
culmen about 17 to 19 mm. 
Birds of the first year have the forehead to back olive-brown, each 
feather margined with black; the rump, upper tail-coverts, tail 
and exposed portions of wing olive-brown; the sides of the fore- 
head and a short supercilium are greyish white with black specks ; 
chin, throat and upper breast white, streaked with dark brown, 
especially on the breast ; remainder of lower plumage ochraceous 
olive-brown. 
