ARGYA. 93 



1870, p. 466; Hume, Sir. F. 1873, p. 180; id. Nests and Eggs, hid. B. 

 p. 275, No. 439; James, Sir. F. 1873, P- 4 2 J Hume, Sir. F. 1875, p. 124 ; 

 Murray, Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 134 ; Oates, B. Br. Burm. i. p. 30. 

 Craleropus Earlii, Blyth and Wald. B. Burm. p. 118. The STRIATED REED* 

 BABBLER. 



Above pale greyish brown ; head and back with dark brown streaks ; tail 

 like the back, with faint traces of transverse striae ; chin, throat and breast 

 fulvescent or reddish brown, with faint mesial streaks ; abdomen, vent and 

 under tail-coverts fulvescent white ; bill dusky yellow ; legs dusky brown ; 

 irides bright yellow. 



Length. 9'5 to 10; wing 3-5 ; tail 5*5 ; bill at front 0*75. 



Hab. Sind, Punjab, N.-W. Provinces, Oudh, Bengal, Central Provinces, 

 Kutch, Kattiawar and Rajpootana, also extending along the valley of Assam, 

 and southwards to Burmah. All the Babblers (bush or reed) associate in 

 small or large parties of from 10 to 20 or more. They affect high grass, 

 hedges, clumps of thick scrub or reed jungle. They feed exclusively on the 

 ground, and when disturbed fly back into the thicket whence they issued, 

 chattering the whole time. They are not very shy, as they build fearlessly in 

 the vicinity of houses as in the open plains, covered with scattered bushes. 

 Reed-margined lakes, canals, and perennial streams are their favourite 

 haunts. The Striated Reed-Babbler lays twice during the year, in March 

 and in September. The nest is a neat and compact structure of grass, roots, 

 leaves, &c., and is generally lined with fine grass stems. The egg-cavity 

 averages 3 to 3*5 inches in diameter. It breeds wherever it is found. The 

 eggs, 4 in number, are of a clear blue colour, varying in size from 0-87 to roi 

 in length, and in breadth from 0*7 to 0*78. 



535. Argya caudata (Drap^, Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. vii. p. 393. 

 Cos'syphus caudatus, Drapiez, Diet. Class, d'Hist. Nat. x. p. 219. Timalia 

 chatorhaea, Frankl. P. Z. S. 1831, p. 118. Malacoceicus caudatus, Blyth, 

 Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc. p. 141. Chatorhaea caudata, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxiv. 

 p. 478; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 67, No 438; Butler, Str. F. 1872, p. 472; 

 Hume, Nests and Eggs, Ind. B. p. 274 ; id. Str. F. 1873, p. 180; Adam, t. c. 

 p. 378; Ball, Str. F. 1874, p. 409; Fairbank, Str. F. 1876, p. 258; 

 Murray, Vert. Zool. Sind, p. 132. Crateropus caudatus, Blanf. Ibis, 1874, 

 p. 76; Blyth and Walden, B. Burm., p. 118 ; Fairbank Str. F. 1876, p. 258 ; 

 Oates, B. Br. Mus. p. 32. The STRIATED BUSH-BABBLER. 



Above pale greyish brown ; crown of head and hind neck dark brown, with 

 pale edgings ; back pale greyish brown, the feathers with dark mesial 

 streaks ; rump and upper tail-coverts like the back, the rump unstriped ; the 

 upper tail coverts mesially streaked with dark brown ; outer webs of primaries 

 concolourous with the back ; inner webs dusky ; tail feathers pale greyish brown, 



