PELLORNEUM. 245 



nest is more often placed in grass nearer the ground. The eggs, 

 generally two only in number, sometimes three, are like those of 

 that bird, but are pinker or more terra-cotla in tint. Fifty eggs 

 average 20'4xl5*0 mm. 



Habits. Those of the last bird. Robinson and Kloss record it 

 from 3,000 feet, Dran, S. Annan. . 



(249) Pellorneum fuscicapillutn fuseicapillum. 

 THE BROWN-CAPPED BABBLER. 



Di-ymocatanfou fuscicapillus Blyth, J. A. S. B., xxiii, p. 815 (1849) 



(8.W. Oylon). 

 Pellorneum fmcicapillum. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 143. 



Vernacular names. Batitcliia (Ceylon). 



Description. Forehead, crown and nape dark chocolate-brown, 

 the shafts fulvous; upper plumage dark olive-brown, the tail 

 tipped narrowly with ochraceous, the feathers of the wing-coverts 

 and back with pale shafts, and the edges of the primaries tinged 

 with rufous ; lores, sides of the head and neck and whole lower 

 plumage sienna-brown, the sides of the neck and breast with 

 obscure striations on some of the feathers, the striations some- 

 times obsolete. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris light to deep red ; eyelid olivaceous ; 

 upper mandible deep brown with a pale margin, lower flesh- 

 colour ; legs and feet brownish-fleshy ; claws pale brownish (i^gre). 



Measurements. Total length about 160 to 170 mm. ; wing 66 to 

 72mm.; tail about 56 to 61mm.; tarsus about 26 to 28mm.; 

 culmen about- 16 mm. 



Distribution. South and South-West Ceylon. 



Nidification. Mr. W. E. Wait describes the nest as similar to 

 that of Pellorneum ruficejjs, and the eggs also are exactly like 

 rather weakly-marked specimens of that bird's and measure 

 about 22'5xl6'3mm. In one clutch there were three eggs, in 

 the others two only. The breeding season appears to be from 

 November to February. 



Habits. Legge describes the habits of this Babbler as much 

 like those of the rest of the family. A shy skulker, frequenting 

 thick cover and feeding on or near the ground. Its note he 

 turns into the syllables " to-meet-you." 



(250) Pellorneum fuseicapillum babaulti. 

 WELLS'S BABBLER. 



Scotocichla ftucicapillum babaulti Wells, Bull. B. O. C., xxxix, p. 69 



(1919) (Trincomalee). 



Vernacular names. Batitcliia (Ceylon). 



Description. Similar to the last but much paler, especially on 

 the lower parts which are brownish buff rather than chestnut. 

 The top of the head is olive-brown instead of blackish. 



