264 TIMALIID. 
(270) Stachyris nigriceps nigriceps. 
THe BrLack-THROATED BABBLER. 
Stachyris nigriceps Hodgs., Blyth, J. A.S. B., xiii, p. 878 (1884) 
(Nepal) ; Blanf. & Oates, 1, p. 162. 
Vernacular names. Sangriam-pho (Lepcha). 
Description. Forehead, crown and nape black; the feathers 
edged with white, giving a streaked appearance to these parts ; 
round the eye white; ear-coverts goiden-brown; cheeks white; a 
conspicuous deep brown or black supercilium; chin and throat 
deep blackish grey, the feathers edged with white; whole upper 
plumage rich olive-brown, the quills of wings and tail edged 
rufous; lower plumage bright fulvous, the flanks, abdomen and 
under tail-coverts tinged with olivaceous, 
Fig. 50.—Head of S. n. nigriceps. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris reddish- or orange-brown ; eyelids 
slaty ; bill horny-brown, the lower mandible fleshy-horny in winter ; 
in summer the bill becomes much darker, blackish-horny above 
and slaty below; legs and feet fleshy-brown, greenish brown or 
more rarely yellowish. 
Measurements. T'otal length about, 140 mm.; wing 58 to 62mm.; 
tail about 55 mm.; tarsus about 21 mm.; culmen about 15 mm. 
Distribution. Nepal, Sikkim and hills North of the Brahma- 
putra to the Miri Hills. 
Nidification. The Black-throated Babbler breeds in May and 
June at all elevations from a few hundred feet up to at least 
10,000, making a cup-shaped or domed nest of bamboo leaves and 
pieces of bracken, mixed and lined with grass. It measures 6’ to 
8" in height by some 4” to 6” in breadth and is always placed on 
the ground but generally on a bank so that it keeps well drained. 
It may be situated in almost any kind of cover. The eggs are 
pure white, broad, blunt ovals, they are stout in texture and have 
a fair gloss and number four or, more rarely, three. Fifty eggs 
average 19-2 x 14:7 mm. 
Habits. This is a typical little Babbler in its habits, skulking 
about in thick undergrowth, in bamboo-jungle or mixed scrub and 
grass. It is found in small parties in winter which keep close 
together, seldom uttering any call beyond an occasional sweet, low 
