POMATOEHINUS. 223 



Tufous on the tail and exposed parts of closed wing ; ear-coverts 

 and cheeks greyish brown ; lores grey; a line commencing above 

 the eye, passing over the ear-coverts and terminating in a broad 

 patch behind them bright rusty; chin, throat, breast, and abdomen 

 "white ; sides of breast deep slaty streaked with white, the breast 

 with a few small spots of slaty-grey ; sides of body and thighs 

 rufous-ashy ; under tail-coverts ferruginous. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris brown to deep red-brown : the 

 naked patch behind the eye is a dull livid, or bluish flesh-colour ; 

 bill pale horny with a yellow, grey or green tinge in it ; legs and 

 feet pale plumbeous or slaty-grey. 



Measurements. Length about 300 mm.; wing 105 to 112 mm. ; 

 tail about 110 to 120 mm. ; tarsus about 38 mm. ; culmeu about 

 40 mm. 



Fig. 36. Head of P. h. hypolcucus. 



Distribution. Assam, North and South of the Brahmaputra, 

 Chittagong, Mauipur, Lushai, Arrakan and the Chin Hills. 



Nidification. This Babbler breeds principally at quite low- 

 levels throughout its range, but may be found nearly up to 

 4,000 feet. It breeds in the end of March to early May, making 

 a, huge oval nest about a foot or more in length by nearly as 

 much in breadth. It is composed of leaves, grass and bamboo 

 spathes very roughly and loosely put together, nearly always on 

 the ground, rarely on a bush or tangle of creepers. Twelve 

 eggs average 30'6x22'l mm. 



Habits. The Arrakan Scimitar-Babbler is always found in 

 pairs, hopping about on the ground in the thickest of under- 

 growth, and it is particularly partial to the most impenetrable 

 cane-brakes in swampy places. Its voice is the triple "hoot" of 

 the genus, but can be distinguished from that of the previous 

 birds by its deep mellowness. Inglis says that the male has a 

 deeper hoot than the female. This species eats small shells, 

 snails, etc., as well as the usual insect food of the other species. 



(225) Pomatorhinus hypoleucus tickelli. 

 TICKELL'S SCIMITAB.-BA.BBLER. 



Pomatorhinus tickelli Blyth, J. A. S. B., xxiv, p. 273 (1875) (Tenas- 

 serim); Blauf. & Gates, i,.p. 127. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



