TIM ALIA. 227 



Colours of soft parts. Iris deep, bright red ; eyelids blue-grey; 

 legs dark blackish or purplish brown, claws horn-colour; bill 

 black. 



Measurements. Total length about 170 to 180 mm. ; wing 55 to 

 64 mm. ; tail about 80mm. ; culmen about 15 mna. 



Distribution. Lower hills and sub-montane tracts from Nepal 

 to Eastern Assam. 



Nidification. These little Babblers breed from April to July, 

 probably often having two broods. They build either on the 

 ground, or very close to ifc, in grass-land, cane-jungle and in low 

 scrub and mixed jungle. The nest is domed and measures about 

 7" x4" with an entrance near the top about 2" in diameter; it is 

 composed of bamboo leaves or grass, according to whichever is the 

 most easily obtained and is lined with grass or, occasionally, a 

 few fine roots. The eggs, which number either three or four, 

 rarely five, in a clutch, are broad, obtuse ovals in shape and with 

 stout, glossy texture. The ground-colour is generally a pure 

 china-white, rarely pinkish, and they are densely covered all over 

 with spots and blotches of umber and reddish brown. Forty 

 eggs average 18-3 x 13-2 mm. 



Habits. The Bed-capped Babbler frequents plains and low hills 

 of grass, reeds or bush-jungle, rarely, if ever, entering forest-land. 

 It goes about in pairs, creeping about the lower cover and every 

 now and then taking little flutters to the top branches or longest 

 grasses, and then dropping down again after uttering a few sweet 

 notes. They call constantly to one another but are not noisy 

 birds. They are found from the plains up to about 3,000 feet, 

 but more often below 1,000 feet than over. 



(228) Timalia pileata jerdoni. 

 THE BUEMESE BED-CAPPED BABBLER. 

 Timalia jerdoni Walden, A. M. N. H., (4) x, p. 61 (1872) (Pegu). 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. The whole plumage more ferruginous than in 

 T. p. benyalensis ; the sides of the breast and flanks are more 

 olive, but there is more white in the centre. 



Colours of soft parts as in the preceding race. 



Measurements. On an average this is a larger bird than the 

 Bengal form, the wing measuring from 60 to 68 mm. and the other 

 parts in proportion. 



Distribution. Practically the whole of Burma in suitable 

 localities from the plains up to some 2,000 or even 3,000 feet ; 

 Siam to S. China. 



Nidification. Breeds from May to July, making a nest similar 

 to that of the last bird, placed in the same kind of situation. The 



Q2 



