220 TIMALIID^E. 



(219) Pomatorhinus erythrogenys erythrogenys. 



VlGOES's EUSTY-CHEEKED SCIMITAR- BABBLER. 



Pomatorhinus erythrogonys Vigors, P. Z. S., 1831, p. 173 (W. Nepal) 

 Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 124. 



Vernacular names. Ban-bukra (Mussoorie). 



Description. Upper plumage, closed witgs and tail olive- 

 brown ; lores white, streaked with grey ; some white feathers on 

 the eyelids ; a moustachial stripe, red near the bill and then 

 black ; forehead, ear-coverts, sides of the neck, thighs and under 

 tail-coverts chestnut; sides of breast and body chestnut washed 

 with olivaceous ; chin, throat, centre of breast and abdomen 

 white. There are only the faintest indications of grey striae on 

 the breast. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris light greenish white, yellowish white 

 or pale bright yellow ; legs and feet fleshy or fleshy-brown ; bill 

 yellowish-horny. 



Measurements. Length about 280 to 290 mm. ; wing 95 to 

 105mm.; tail about 100 mm.; tarsus about 40 mm.; culinen 

 about 33 to 35 mm. 



Distribution. jST.AV. Himalayas to Simla. 



Nidification. These birds breed in May and June, making the 

 same kind of large oval nest as the other birds of this genus. They 

 ascend at least as high as 8,000 feet and possibly to 10,000 but are 

 most often found in summer between 3,000 and 5,000. They build 

 on grass-covered hills and in open scrub-jungle more frequently 

 than the other species do and nests may often be found some little 

 distance from heavy cover. Hodgson says they lay three or four 

 eggs but two Avill be found hard-set far more often than four. 

 Thirty eggs average about 27'9x20-3 mm. They are rather 

 broad ovals in shape. 



Habits. The Eusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babblers haunt both 

 underwood in dense forest, grass-covered sides of hills and 

 deserted patches of cultivation where the vegetation is still sparse. 

 They feed like the rest of the genus on grubs, beetles, earth- 

 worms and insects of all kinds, and their voice is the typical 

 triple "hoot.' ; They consort in small parties of three or four to 

 a dozen individuals, are secretive in their habits, though not 

 really shy, and they indulge in the same conversational outbursts 

 and quaint dances that their relations delight in. 



(220) Pomatorhinus erythrogenys haringtoni. 

 BAKER'S EUSTY-CHEEKED SCIMITAR-BABBLER. 



Pomatorhinus harinytoni Stuart Baker, Bull. B. O. C., xxxiii, p. 123 

 (1914) (Darjiling). 



Vernacular names. Yongo-7iut-pho (Lepcha). 



