PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. 43 



POMATORHINUS HORSFIELDI MELANURUS. 



The Ceylon Scimitar Babbler. 



Pomatorhinus melanurus (Oates, Vol. I., p. '118 ; Legge, p. 501). 



Description. — A band from the nostrils through the eye to 

 the ear coverts black, bordered above by a broad white streak 

 over the eye to the nape ; crown and nape dark olivaceous- 

 brown ; upper plumage, the sides of the neck and body, the 

 thighs, vent, and under tail coverts rufous-brown to olive- 

 brown, the tint varying in individual specimens ; tail ferru- 

 ginous near the base, darkening to almost black at the tip ; 

 lower parts from chin to abdomen white. In many birds the 

 sides of the head and chest are streaked with white ; in others 

 the line of demarcation between the white lower plumage and 

 the back is more abrupt. 



Bill gamboge yellow, blackish adjoining the nostrils ; iris 

 reddish-brown to dull red ; eyelid and orbital skin blue ; legs 

 greenish lead colour, feet with a blue tinge. In young birds 

 the bill is less curved than in adults. 



Length 8*5; wing 3-5; tail 3*5; tarsus 1-2; bill from 

 gape 1'2. 



Distribution. — The Southern Scimitar Babbler is found over 

 a large portion of Peninsular India, and is divided into four 

 sub-species, of which the present form is found only in Ceylon. 

 Col. Harrington is of opinion that our Ceylon form should also 

 be divided into two races, as birds from the dry zone and the 

 hills are, as a rule, more olivaceous than those from the low- 

 country zone. However, as Legge points out, the variation 

 is to a certain extent individual, and until a large series from 

 all localities is available for examination, I hesitate to 

 make any sub-s]_>ecific distinction. This Babbler is found all 

 over the hills and in most of the well-vvoodcd portions of 

 the low-country. It is rare, however, in the drier forest 

 districts. 



