40 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



B. — Bill long, slender, and markedly curved, lower plumage 

 largely white. 



Pomatorhinus horsfieldi melanurus (Southern Scimitar 

 Babbler). 



Crateropus striatus striatus. 

 The Southern Indian Babbler. 



Crateropus striatus (Gates, Vol. I., p. 112); Malacocercus 

 striatus (Legge, p. 494). 



Description. — Upper plumage, head, neck, and chest pale 

 ashy-brown, the feathers with paler gray edges, those of the 

 back also with paler shaft stripes ; wmg coverts more uniform 

 brown ; wing quills dark brown, the outer webs with much 

 paler whitish -brown margins ; upper tail coverts slightly 

 more rufous ; tail smoky-brown shading into darker brown 

 towards the tip and with numerous cross-rays of darker brown ; 

 lower breast, abdomen, and under tail coverts dingy, tawny- 

 brown. Birds from the dry districts are slightly paler on the 

 head, neck, and breast, the edges of the feathers having almost 

 a pearly tinge. 



Bill pale horny yellow ; iris white ; eyelid yellowish ; legs 

 and feet dingy yellowish-white. 



Length 9*5; wing 4*1; tail 4 ; tarsus 1*3; bill from 

 gape 1 "0. 



Distribution. — The sub-species found in Ceylon is confined 

 to this Island. It is distinguished from the South Indian 

 form, C. striatus griseus, by its smaller size and smaller bill. 

 It is found all over the low -country, being most abundant in 

 chena, scrub jungle, and cultivated tracts. In the hills it is 

 abundant and more locally distributed, but appears to be 

 increasing. It is rare, however, over 5,000 feet. 



Habits. — One of our most familiar birds, generally known 

 as the " Seven Sisters " from its custom of going about in 

 little troops of from five to seven individuals. It is seldom 

 met with far from cultivation. The general habits are 

 described in my remarks on the sub-famUy, 



