216 TIMALIIDjE. 



Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the last bird. 



Distribution. Tonngoo and Kareii Hills, Yamethen, Upper 

 Burma. 



Nidification and Habits. Nothing recorded. 



This and the last bird are undoubtedly only races of P. ferrugi- 

 nosus, although tlie extremes of difference between birds from 

 Nepal and birds from the Karen Hills are very great. 



Pomatorhinus ruficollis. 



Key to Subspecies. 



A. Upper plumage ruddy brown P. r. ruficollis, p. 216. 



B. Upper plumage olive-brown P. r. bukeri, p. 217. 



(214) Pomatorhinus ruficollis ruficollis. 

 THE NEPA.L liuFors-^ECKED SCIMITAK-BABBLER. 



Pomatorhinus rvficottit Hodgs., As. Res., xix, p. 182 (1836) (Nepal); 

 Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 122. 



Vernacular names. Blnakuroh (Parbuttiahs). 



Description. Upper plumage, tail and closed wing ruddy 

 brown; a broad white supercilium from the nostrils to the nape; 

 lores, under the eyes and ear-coverts black ; sides of the neck 

 bright ferruginous, extending to the hind neck and forming a 

 collar ; chin, cheeks and throat white ; lower throat, breast and 

 centre of abdomen white streaked with olive-brown ; sides of 

 abdomen and breast, vent and under tail-coverts olive-brown. 



Colours of soft parts. Bill yellow, pale at the tip and with 

 three-quarters of the culmen nearly black ; iris pale red to crim- 

 son ; eyelid plumbeous ; feet pale brownish plumbeous, pale 

 greyish or greenish plumbeous ; claws brownish horny. 



Measurements. Length about 195 to 205mm.; wing 78 to 

 84 mm. ; tail about S3 mm. ; tarsus about 27 mm. ; culmen about 

 20mm. 



Young nestlings have the whole breast rusty red. The bill is 

 entirely yellow. 



Distribution. Himalayas, Nepal to Eastern Assam, North of 

 the Brahmaputra. 



Nidification. This Scimitar-Babbler breeds from the end of 

 April to June from 4,000 to 6,000 feet, making the usual ball- 

 shaped nest of grass, bracken and fern fronds, etc., placed on the 

 ground in grass, weeds or bush undergrowth. The egjzs vary from 

 three to five and are white like all other Scimitar- Bab biers but 

 have very little gloss. Fifty eggs average about 23-6 x 18-0 mm. 



Habits. The Rufous-necked Scimitar-Babbler frequents eleva- 

 tions between 3,000 and 6,000 feet, being found still lower in 

 winter and higher in summer. It keeps much to forest with 

 plentiful undergrowth, but also may be sometimes found on hill- 

 sides covered mainly with long grass and bushes. 



