196 TIMALIIDJE. 



Bolgodole measure 24-1x18-0 mm. and 23-3x17-9 mm. Two 

 taken for me by Mr. W. A. T. Kellow measure 24-2 x 18-1 mm. 

 and 24-0x17-8 mm. They cannot be distinguished from those 

 of striatus. 



Habits. The Ceylonese Babbler seems to be a bird of the forest 

 and jungle rather than a frequenter of village scrub and open 

 country. Mr. W. Phillips informs me that it is not uncommon in 

 the Matagatna district but that it keeps much to forest. 



(190) Turdoides cinereifrons. 

 THE ASHY-HEADED BABBLER. 



Garrulax cinereifrons Ely th , J. A. S. B., xx, p. 176 (1851) (Oylon). 

 Crateropus cinereifrons. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 114. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Forehead, crown and sides of the head cinereous, 

 shading off on the nape into the bright reddish brown which is the 

 colour of the whole upper plumnge, tail and visible portions of the- 

 wings, except the outer webs of the first few primaries which are 

 paler ; chin whitish ; remainder of lower plumage rufous-brown, 

 darker on the flanks and under tail-coverts. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris white ; eyelid plumbeous ; bill black ;. 

 inside of mouth greenish yellow ; legs and feet plumbeous brown ;. 

 claws dusky-horny (Leyge). 



Measurements. Length about 250 to 260 mm. ; wing 121 to 

 128mm.; tail about 105 to 110 mm.; tarsus 38 mm. ; culmen 

 about 20 to 22 mm. 



Distribution. Ceylon only, up to about 2,500 feet. 



Nidifi cation. Unknown. 



Habits. This bird is a typical Babbler in its noisy, gregarious 

 habits, but it is confined to dense forests where it is always damp 

 and gloomy. 



Genus ARGYA Lesson, 1831. 



This genus differs from Turdoides in its longer tail and in its 

 longer, more slender bill. The wing also is not so rounded, the 

 third quill being longest or subequal with the fourth. The tail is 

 longer and more graduated, the outermost feathers being about 

 half the length of the central ones. Aryya lonc/irostris has a bill 

 longer than the other species but is otherwise congeneric. 



Key to Species and Subspecies. 



A. Head and back distincth r streaked with 



blackish or very dark brown. 

 a. Chin and throat rufous with dark shaft- 

 stripes A. earlii, p. 197. 



