BHOPOCICHLA. 281 



Genus RHOPOCICHLA Gates, 1889. 



This genus differs from Alcippe in having the nostrils rounder, 

 exposed and pierced in the anterior part, of the membrane, and in 

 having a shorter tail when compared with the wing. The bill is 

 curved throughout ; there are no hairs overhanging the nostrils 

 but the rictal bristles are well developed. There is only one species 

 in the genus confined to S. India and Cevlon, where it is repre- 

 sented by three races. 



Rhopocichla atriceps. 



Key to Subspecies. 



A. Crown and sides of the head black . . R. a. atriceps, p. 281. 



B. Forehead and ear-coverts only black. . R. a. nigrifrons, p. 282. 



C. Ear-coverts only blackish R. a. bourdilloni, p. 282. 



(294) Rhopocichla atriceps atriceps. 

 THE BLACK-HEADED BABBLES. 



Brtichypteryx atriceps Jerdon, Madr. Jour. L. S., x, p. 250 (1839) 



(Trichoor). 

 Rhopocichla atriceps. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 160. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Forehead, crown, nape, ear-coverts and under the 

 eye black ; the whole upper plumage, wings and tail fulvous 

 brown ; lower plumage dull white, changing to olivaceous on the 

 flanks and under tail-coverts. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris bright yellow, pale orange or buff ; 

 bill dull black, commissure and lower mandible fleshy-pink ; legs 

 and feet pale plumbeous shaded in varying degree with fleshy- 

 pink or dull purple. 



Measurements. Total length about 140 mm.; wing 54 to 60 mm.; 

 tailabout 50 mm. ; tarsus about 23mm.; culmen abont 13 to 14mm. 



Distribution. The Nilgiris and hills of S.W. India, not 

 Travancore. 



Nidification. The Black-headed Babbler appears to breed in 

 almost every month of the year from December to August and 

 probably in the other three also. It makes an oval nest of grass 

 lined with softer bits of the same which it places in bamboos, 

 grass and reeds by roadsides through jungle, in reed-beds or scrub- 

 jungle. It is found during the breeding season from the lower 

 hills up to 6,000 feet. 



The eggs, two in number, are pure white with numerous small 

 spots and dots of dark purple-red scattered over the whole surface 

 but generally more numerous at the larger end. The texture is 

 hard and glossy. Twenty eggs average about 19-2 x 13-9 mm. 



Habits. The birds of this genus are said to have much the same 

 habits as those of Pellorneum, i. e. they are shy, rather skulking 



