POMATORHItfTJS. 81 



114. Crateropus rufescens (Blyth). The Ceylonese Babbler. 

 Layardia rufescens (Blyth), Hume, Cat. no. 437 bis. 



Colonel Legge writes regarding the nidification of this bird in 

 Ceylon : " This bird breeds in the Western Province in March, 

 April, and May, and constructs a nest similar to the last [_M. stri- 

 atus], of grass and small twigs, mixed perhaps with a few leaves, 

 and placed among creepers surrounding the trunks of trees or in 

 a low fork of a tree. It conceals its habitation, acccording to 

 Layard, with great care ; and I am aware myself that very few 

 nests have been found. It lays two or three eggs, very similar to 

 those of the last species, of a deep greenish blue, and pointed ovals 

 in shape two which were taken by Mr. Mac Vicar at Bolgodde 

 measuring 0'95 by 0'75, and O92 by 0-74 inch." 



115. Crateropus cinereifrons (Blyth). The Ashy-headed Babbler. 

 Garralax cinereifrons (Blyth}, Hume, Cat. no. 409 bis. 



Colonel Legge, in his work on the birds of Ceylon, says : 

 " The breeding-season of this bird is from April to July. Full- 

 fledged nestlings may be found abroad with the parent birds 

 in August ; and from this I base my supposition, for I have never 

 found the nest myself. Intelligent native woodmen, in the western 

 forests, who are well acquainted with the bird, have informed me 

 that it nests in April, building a large, cup-shaped nest in the 

 fork of a bush-branch, and laying three or four dark blue eggs. 

 Whether this account be correct or not, future investigation must 

 decide." 



116. Pomatorhinus schisticeps, Hodgs. The Slaty-headed 

 Scimitar Babbler. 



Pomatorhinus schisticeps, Hodgs.,Jei'd. B. I. ii,p, 29; Hume, Rough 

 Draft N. $ E. no. 402. 



Speaking of the Slaty-headed Scimitar Babbler, Dr. Jerdon 

 says : " A ne st made of moss and some fibres, and with four 

 pure white eggs, was brought to me at Darjeeling as belonging to 

 this bird." 



Two nests were sent me by Mr. Mandelli as belonging to this 

 species, the one found near Namtchu on the 3rd April containing four 

 fresh eggs, the other near Tendong on the 15th June, containing 

 three. Another nest which he found on the 22nd April, near the 

 same place as the first, contained four fresh eggs. All were placed 

 on or very near to the ground in brushwood and grass ; all appear 

 to have been large, rather saucer-like nests, from 5 -5 to 6-5 inches in 

 diameter externally, and 2*5 to 3 in height. Outside and below 

 they are composed chiefly of coarse grass, dead leaves, especially fern- 

 leaves, while interiorly they are composed of and lined with finer 



TOL. i. 6 



