BABAX. 187 



In Manipur Hume found them frequenting secondary growth in 

 deserted clearings, but in N. Cachar they preferred deep, wet forest 

 with an undergrowth of bracken, caladiums, jasmine and rasp- 

 berries, which grew in dense matted profusion everywhere. In 

 bamboo- jungle they were easier to watch, and 1 often saw them 

 hopping about feeding among the fallen leaves, but anv movement 

 drove them off at once and they took to wing and flew better 

 than most of their nearest relations. 



Genus BABAX David, 1876. 



The Babblers of this genus form a connecting-link between 

 Troclialopterum and the genera already dealt with and Argyn. and 

 Turdoides, being on the whole nearer the latter than the 

 former group. The wing is short and rounded, the tail long and 

 much graduated. The bill is rather slender, slightly curved, and 

 in length about equal to, or longer than, hind toe and claw to- 

 gether. The rictal bristles are strong and of considerable length, 

 and the oval, exposed nostrils are overhung by numerous hairs. 



There are several species of this genus found ou the borders of 

 the Indian Empire, of which three enter our limits, whilst others 

 may possibly be found to do so in extreme Northern Burma when 

 the ornithology of that country is better known. 



Key to Species and Subspecies. 



A. Plumage boldly striped above and below. 



a. Wing under 110 mm. ; plumage rufescent. [p. 187. 

 a'. Throat immaculate buffy white B, 1. lanceolatus, 



b'. Throat white with black shafts to the 



feathers B. I victoria, p. 188. 



b. Wing over 110 mm. ; plumage grey B. ivaddelli, p. 189. 



B. Plumage rufous above and below, stripes 



absent or obsolete . koslowi, p. 189. 



(180) Babax lanceolatus lanceolatus. 

 THE CHINESE BABAX. 



Pterorhinus lanceolatus Verr., Nouv. Arch. Mus. Paris, vi, p 36 

 (1871) (Chinese Tibet). 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Crown bright rufous-brown with dark centres to 

 the feathers ; remainder of upper plumage and wing-coverts 

 darker rufescerit brown, each feather broadly edged with pale 

 fulvous grey, white on sides of neck, almost so on nape and 

 darkest on rump ; upper tail-coverts grey with obsolete concealed 

 dark centres ; tail rufous-brown, duller than crown ; lores and 

 forehead fulvous, the latter merging into the crown ; ear-coverts 

 striped white and brown ; a broad moustachial streak varying 

 from chestnut to almost black ; chin, throat and upper breast 



