204 XIMALIIDJE. 



(198) Acanthoptila nipalensis. 

 THE SPINY BABBLES. 



Timalia nipalensis Hodgs., As. Res., xix, p. 182 (1836) (Nepal). 

 Acanthoptila nrpalensis. Blauf. & Gates, i, p. 386. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. The whole upper plumage, tail and visible portions 

 of the wings rich olive-brown, the feathers of the head and back 

 with stiff, black shafts; tail cross-rayed darker; lores and the 

 feathers behind and below the eyes whitish ; ear-coverts brown, 

 mixed with white ; lower plumage rufescent, each feather with a 

 dark brown shaft-stripe, these increasing in size on breast and 

 abdomen ; under tail-coverts and flanks plain rufesceut brown. 



Fig. 33. Head of A. nipalensis. 



Some birds, including specimens killed in summer, have the 

 lower part of head, chin and throat white with glistening shafts, 

 and the lower plumage is paler. According to Gates this is the 

 summer plumage, but there is too little evidence at present either 

 to confirm or refute this suggestion. 



Colours of soft parts. Bill dusky brown ; legs dull fleshy- 

 brown ; iris smoky-brown (Hodgson, MS.). 



Measurements. Length about 250 to 260 mm. ; tail about 125 

 to 130 mm. ; wing 85 to 90 mm. ; tarsus about 30 mm. ; culmen 

 about 18 to 19 mm. 



Distribution. Xepal and Sikkim and ? N.W. Himalayas. 



Nidification. According to Hodgson this Babbler makes a loose, 

 shallow grass nest, about 5" in diameter by about 2" deep, which 

 it places in a fork of a tree. The eggs are said to be verditer-blue 

 and to measure about 23 x 16'5 mm. Eggs in my own collection 

 reputed to be of this bird are quite different and in type more 

 like those of Megalurus. The ground is white and they are pro- 

 fusely speckled and spotted with brown and underlying spots of 

 pale neutral tint on purplish lavender. They measure about 

 22x17 mm. Their identification is not satisfactory and more 

 information is very badly required about the bird and its life- 

 history. 



Habits. Hodgson says that this bird is solitary, tenants low 



