194 TIMALIIDJE. 



a third from Mysore and yet another from the Wynaad show 

 similar but less red markings. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris creamy or yellowish white ; orbital 

 skin, bill, legs and feet yellowish white to almost chrome-yellow. 



Measurements. Length about 230 to 235 mm. ; wing about 

 98 to 104 mm. ; tail about 100 mm. ; tarsus about 32 mm. ; culmeu 

 about 17 mm. 



Distribution. Southern India up to a line from Ellore, Secun- 

 derabad and Belgaum. 



Nidification. Breeds all over South India in the plains and 

 lower hills up to some 2,000 feet, having two broods, the first in 

 April to June and the second in September to November, odd 

 birds laying at other times throughout the year. Nest and eggs 

 are typical of the genus, the latter numbering three or four, whilst 

 sixty eggs average 24'0 x 18'8 mm. 



Habits. Those of the genus. 



(187) Turdoides griseus striatus. 

 THE CEYLON BABBLER. 



Malacocercus striatus Swains., Zool. 111., p. 127 (1831) (Ceylon). 

 Orat eropus yriseus. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 112. 



Vernacular names. Demelitcha (Ceylon) ; Punil (Tarn.). 



Description. The Ceylon Babbler differs from T. g. grise-us in 

 having the head concolorous with the back ; the dark and light 

 streaks to the back are less well-defined. 



Colours of soft parts as in the White-headed Babbler. 



Measurements. Wing about 110mm. 



Distribution. Ceylon only. Individuals are obtained in South 

 India which approach this race in colour, but they are all, possibly, 

 young birds and should be referred to the former rather than to 

 the present race. 



Nidification. This Babbler breeds in great numbers in parts of 

 Ceylon, laying normally three eggs, often only two and very 

 rarely four. Neither nest nor eggs can be distinguished from those 

 of T. g. griseus, and a fine series of fifty eggs collected for me by 

 Messrs. W. E. Wait and W. W. A. Phillips average 23-8 X 

 18-4 mm. 



Habits. Those of the genus. 



(188) Turdoides somervillei. 

 THE BOMBAY BABBLER. 



Timalia somervillei Sykes, P. Z. S., 1832, p. 88 (Bombay). 

 Crateropus somervillii. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 113. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Forehead, crown and nape dark brown, the feathers 



