94 CRATEROPODID^E. 



others they are clear and distinct. Some of the eggs are miniatures 

 of some types of Pyctorhis sinensis, but many recall the eggs of the 

 Titmouse. They are much about the size of those of Parus cceruleus 

 and P. palustris, but a trifle less broad than either of these. The 

 eggs have a faint gloss. 



In length they vary from 0-63 to 0'7, and in breadth from 0'5 

 to 0-56 ; but the average of twenty-four eggs now before me is 

 0-67 by 0-53. 



136. Dumetia albigularis (Blyth). The Small White-throated 



Babbler. 



Dumetia albogularis (Blytli), Jenl. B. Ind. ii, p. 20 j Hume, Rouyh 

 Draft N.fyJE.vo. 398. 



Miss M. B. Cockburn, writing from Kotagherry, tells me that 

 " the White-throated Babbler builds its nest in the month of 

 June. One was found by my nest-seekers on the 17th of that 

 month in the year 1873. It was constructed on a coffee-tree, and 

 contained three eggs, which -were white, profusely covered with 

 reddish spots of all sizes. The bird was very shy, and would not 

 return to the nest for some hours after it had been discovered ; 

 when, however, she did so, she was shot. This year (1874) I 

 found another similar nest on the 9th of June, also containing 

 three eggs." 



The nest with which she favoured me was small and nearly 

 globular (say at most 4 inches in external diameter), composed 

 entirely of broad flaggy grass without any lining or any admixture 

 whatsoever of other material. The nest was loosely put together, 

 and had a comparatively narrow circular entrance near the top. 



From Mysore Mr. Iver Macpherson writes : " This is an ex- 

 ceedingly common bird in parts of this district, and their nests are 

 so plentiful that I never now take them. 



" I send you all the eggs I have at present, but can procure you 

 any number more next season. 



" The birds are to be found in all kinds of wooded country ex- 

 cept the heavy forests, and appear to breed from the middle of 

 April to the end of July, and possibly later. 



" The nest is a largish globular structure loosely made of either 

 bamboo-leaves or blades of grass, and all that I have ever seen 

 have been lined inside with a few fine fibres. 



" Four appears to be the usual number of eggs, but very often 

 there are only three. 



" The nests are always built near the ground, sometimes almost 

 touching it, and are fixed in either small bushes, tufts of grass, or 

 young bamboo-clumps." 



Mr. J. L. Darling, Jun., states that this bird is very common 

 in Culputty in the Wynaad, at an elevation of about 3000 feet, 

 and that he has found the nests from the end of May to the middle 

 of October. The nest is built in high grass nearly on the ground, 



