540 Dr. C. B. Ticehurst on [Ibis, 



from those from Calcutta, whence came the typo of the 

 species. 



Argya caudata caudata (Dam.). "Hero." 



Throughout Sind the Common Babbler is one of the most 

 numerous and well-known birds affecting all habitats except 

 the hills, thickest forest, and swamp. It breeds from mid- 

 March to October ; Mr. Bell thinks that roosting" nests are 

 also made. The flocks do not seem to break up, even in the 

 nesting seasons, which is somewhat curious as they are not 

 colonial nesters ; interference with the young will bring 

 the whole flock round squeaking their protests^ and the 

 presence of any undesirable animal is in like manner 

 given away. 



Wings measure : (J, SO-5-83-5; ?, 77-82. Bills from 

 base: S, 20-2.">; ?, 18-22 mm. 



Juveniles differ from adults in having whitish tips to the 

 dark feathers of the crown and no buff edges, so that the ap- 

 pearance is " scaly " instead of streaked ; under parts as in 

 adult, but more ochraceous on the pectoral region and flanks. 

 Some adults are more rufescent than others below, and such 

 appears to be the eclipses of Hume. Juveniles undergo a 

 complete moult and adults moult once a year — in autumn. 



Argya caudata huttoni (Blyth). 



There is in the British Museum an undoubted specimen of 

 huttoni, obtained by Blanford in the " hills south of the Gaj 

 River" on 1 January, 1877, elevation not stated. The 

 distribution of these two races requires further examination, 

 and a series from the Sind hills with the elevations they were 

 obtained at is desirable. A bird also in the British Museum 

 from the Nari Nai is undoubtedly typical caudata, but may 

 have quite well been obtained in the plains. I may here 

 also note that I have examined a bird of the tyjjical race 

 from Kaiii in north-west Persia, a very unexpected locality. 



This Sind specimen measures : — ? . Wing 85*5 ; bill 21-5 

 from base. 



