AKGYA. 199 



The principal months are March to May before the rains break 

 and again in July to September. The nest is a fairly neat cup 

 made of grass, with roots, grass, bark and other fibrous material 

 to a lesser extent mixed with it. There is either no lining or a 

 very slight one of fine grass stems. It may be placed in almost any 

 position low down ; generally in a thorny bush, but also in cactus 

 hedges, orange-trees, babools, tufts of grass, tangles of canes or 

 vines, creepers over trellis-work or any similar site. It measures 

 roughly about 5" x 2|" externally by about 3" x 2", or rather 

 less, inside. The eggs number three or four, in South India 

 sometimes only two. They are of the typical dark glossy-blue 

 colour common to the genus, in shape broad, blunt ovals, whilst 

 the average of 200 eggs is 21-2 X 16--1 mm. 



Habits. In the North of India this is one of the most common 

 and familiar of birds, entering and breeding in compounds and all 

 round about villages, but it is found wherever there is open 

 country with sufficient cover in the way of bushes, hedges and 

 scrub. It does not haunt forests, but is often found in high grass- 

 covered plains when they are dry. In the South of India it is said 

 to be less confiding in its habits and rather to shun the vicinity of 

 human beings. Its flight and manners generally are similar to 

 those of the last bird, but it is less noisy. Its voice is described 

 by Jerdon as a " low, undertoned warbling whistle " and it also^ 

 has a constant soft chattering. 



(193) Argya caudata huttoni. 



THE AFGHAN BABBLER. 

 Malacocercus huttoni Blytk, J. A. S. B., xvi, p. 476 (1847) (Candahar), 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Similar to the last bird but much paler and greyer r 

 the central marks less defined and not so dark. It is also a 

 trifle larger. 



Colours of soft parts as in the last bird. 



Measurements. Wing 83 to 95 mm. ; tail 125 to 135 mm. 



Distribution. Afghanistan, Baluchistan and S.E. Persia. A 

 specimen from " the Jay River Hills," Sind, is a very typical 

 example of this race, but other specimens from the plains of Sind 

 are true caudata. I cannot separate Hume's eclipes. 



Nidification and Habits do not appear to differ from those 

 of the Indian bird. 



(194) Argya gularis. 

 THE WHITE-THROATED BABBLER. 



Chatarrhoea gularis, Blyth, J. A. S. B., xxiv, p. 478 (1855) (E. aids 



of Bay of Bengal). 

 Argya gularis. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 107. 



Vernacular names. Zay-we (Burmese). 



