HORIZILLAS. 257 



a "Wren than those of the preceding genus; it frequents the same 

 kind of forest as Turdinulus^ but may also be found in scrub and 

 deserted clearings. It keeps much to the ground, on which it 

 feeds in the same manner as the Scimitar-Babblers, turning over 

 the leaves and scratching in the mould for insects. It has a 

 sweet, chirping whistle which it utters as a call or when frightened 

 or disturbed. It keeps in pairs, not in flocks, and is wholly 

 insectivorous in its diet. 



Genus HORIZILLAS Oberholser, 1905. 



The genus Horizillas is remarkable for its lengthened wings 

 and, in consequence, its comparatively short tail; the plumage is 

 soft and silky. The two Indian species of the genus appear to 

 be more arboreal than any of the preceding genera and to have 

 somewhat the deportment of Bulbuls. The rictal bristles are very 

 conspicuous on account of their length and the bill is short and 

 straight. The legs and feet are weak for Timaliine birds. The 

 name Malacopterum. Eyton is preoccupied as is Setaria Blyth *. 



Key to Species. 



A.. Crown bright ferruginous , H. magna mayna, p. 257. 



B. Crown olive-brown H. magnirostre, p. 258. 



(263) Horizillas magna magna. 



THE RED-HEADED TREE-BABBLER. 



Malacopterum magnum Eyton, P. Z. S., 1839, p. 103 (Malaya) ; Blanf. 

 & Gates, i, p. 151. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Forehead and crown bright ferruginous, the an- 

 terior feathers black-shafted and the posterior ones faintly edged 

 with black ; lores and a broad supercilium grey, the middle of the 

 feathers whitish; the whole nape black; ear-coverts fulvous- 

 brown with pale shafts; the whole upper plumage fulvous-brown, 

 tinged with ferruginous on the ruaip, upper tail-coverts and outer 

 webs of the tail-feathers ; cheeks mottled grey and white; chin, 

 throat and upper breast white, streaked with grey ; remainder of 

 lower plumage greyish white. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris sienna-brown (young) to carmine or 

 orange-red; bill dark horny-brown above, lower mandible pale 

 plumbeous white ; legs, feet and claws pale plumbeous blue to 

 pale smalt-blue. 



Measurements. Length about 170 to 180 mm. ; wing about 

 84 to 94 mm.; tail about 75 mm.; tarsus about 23 mm.; culmen 

 about 20 mm. 



*See Oberholser, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 48, p. 64, 1905. 

 VOL. I. t 



