228 TIMA.LIID,*;. 



eggs also resemble those of the western form, but measure about 

 18-7x14-9 mm. 



Habits. Do not differ from those of the last bird. Harington 

 states that he only found the bird in damp low-lying places in 

 Upper Burma, whilst Gates speaks of its frequenting gardens 

 in Lower Burma. 



Genus DUMETIA Blyth, 1849. 



This genus, which contains two common species, resembles 

 Timalia very closely in structure, especially in the stiffness of 

 the feathers of the forehead and crown. The essential difference 

 between the two genera is that in Dumetia the bill is much 

 smaller, more slender and of a pale colour, whereas in Timalia 

 it is larger, deeper and black. 



Key to Species and Subspecies. 



A. Chin and throat rufous D. hyperythra, p. 228. 



B. Chin and throat white. [p. 229. 



a. Forehead only pale rufous D. albigularis albiyularis, 



b. Whole crown rufous with pale shafts . D. a. abnensis, p. 230. 



(229) Dumetia hyperythra. 

 THE KTTFOUS-BELLIED BABBLKR. 



Timalia hyperythra Franhl., P. Z. S., 1831, p. 118 (Ganges near 



Benares). 

 Dumetia hyperythra. Blanf . & Gates, i, p. 133. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Forehead and anterior half of crown reddish 

 brown, the feathers of the former rigid and pointed, with large 

 fulvous streaks and with the shafts black when viewed in certain 

 lights ; feathers round the eye white ; upper plumage, tail and 

 exposed wing olive-brown, the tail cross-rayed ; cheeks fulvous 

 with pale shafts ; ear-coverts like the upper plumage but paler 

 and with still paler shafts ; entire lower plumage pale fulvous. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris light to dark brown ; bill pale horny 

 or pale livid brown ; legs pale fleshy-white to fleshy-grey. 



Measurements. Total length about 135 to 145 mm. ; wing 53 to 

 56 mm.: tail about 65 mm.; tarsus about 18 to 20 ram.; culmeu 

 about 12 to 13 mm. 



Distribution. This little Babbler is found South as far as 

 Khandala on the West and the Godaveri Valley on the East. 

 Thence it is found throughout the Central Provinces, Central 

 India, Chota Xagpur, the dry western portions of Bengal, Orissa 

 and Behar, and thence to the Lower Himalayas from Sikkim to 

 Kumaon. To the West it occurs as far as longitude 75. 



