PELLOfiNEUM. 247 



(252) Pellorneum tickelli tickelli. 

 TICKELL'S BABBLES. 



Pellorneum tickelli Blyth, J. A. S. B., xxviii, p. 414 (1859) (Tenas- 



serim). 

 Drymocataphus tickelli. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 146. 



Vernacular names. Dao-busha (Cachari). 



Description. "Whole upper plumage olive-brown ; the fore- 

 head more fulvous ; the feathers of the crown pale-shafted ; 

 tail rather more rufous than the back ; lores, eyebrow and 



Fig. 44. Head of P. t. tickelli. 



feathers round the eye pale f ulvous ; ear-coverts fulvous-brown 

 with pale shafts ; sides of the neck similar to the back but paler ; 

 cheeks and entire lower plumage fulvous, with indications of 

 stripes on throat and breast ; centre of abdomen and sometimes 

 chin and throat albescent. 



Colours of soft parts. Bill bluish or dusky-horny above, paler 

 below and more fleshy ; iris reddish brown to Indian red; ejelids 

 livid or dull greenish flesh- colour ; legs, feet and claws fleshy- 

 white. 



Measurements. Total length about 150 to 160 mm. ; wing 60 to 

 66mm.; tail 52 to 55 mm.; tarsus about 27 mm.; culmen 17 to 

 18 mm. 



Distribution. Assam South of the Brahmaputra, but not East 

 of the Naga Hills, through West Burma and Karenni to Ten- 

 asserim and Malay Peninsula, Siam to Annam. 



Nidification. Tickell's Babbler breeds from early April to the 

 end of May and also, possibly a second brood, in late June and 

 July. It may be found at this season at all heights between 3,000 

 and 7,000 feet, more often over 4,000 feet than under that height. 

 The nest is sometimes globular, frequently a deep cup made 

 principally of fine grasses but with a few leaves, bamboo-spathes 

 or even a scrap or two of dried moss or bracken leaves added to 

 the outer fabric. The lining is always of fine grasses only. It 

 is never placed actually on the ground though often within a 

 few inches of it but is built in some low bush, tangle of creepers 

 or raspberry-vines, or occasionally, in a bamboo clump. Scrub 

 near to openings forms the favourite site, but I have taken nesta 

 in fairly deep forest. 



