SIBIA. 95 



Hab* Upper Burmah. Gates says it is confined to the northern portions 

 of the Pegu division in the Irrawady Valley. Common at Thayetmyo. It has 

 been procured both at Prome and near Bhamo. Nothing is known of its 

 modification. 



538- Argya malCOlmi (Sykes), Hume, Str. F. 1879, P- 97 ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. B. Br. Mus. vii. p. 399. Timalia malcolmi, Sykes, P. Z. S. 1832, p. 88. 

 Malacocercus malcolmi, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiii. p. 369; Jerd. B. Ind. ii, 

 p. 64, No. 436; Murray, Vert. Zool. Sind, p. 133. The LARGE GREY 

 BABBLER. 



Forehead pale bluish, the feathers white shafted ; a dusky streak from the 

 nostrils to the eye ; ear-coverts brownish grey, the feathers white shafted and 

 lax ; crown of head, hind neck and back brownish grey, with dark mesial 

 streaks to the feathers ; rump lighter ; primaries edged pale grey on the outer 

 web ; the inner webs dusky brown ; secondaries dusky brown ; tertiaries and 

 wing coverts concolorous with the back, or greyer in some specimens; tail, 

 with the central feathers, dusky brown, and with numerous faint cross bars, the 

 next two on each side lighter, and the rest fulvescent white ; under surface of 

 body fulvescent white, darker or rufescent on the chin, throat and breast ; 

 under wing coverts silky buff. Bill horny brown ; legs yellowish ; irides 

 light yellow. 



Length. II inches ; wing 4/5 to 4*75 ; bill at front 0*75 to nearly one. 



Hab. The Western and Southern Presidencies of India, does not extend 

 beyond Sind. Usually found associated with Crateropus canorus at Larkhana 

 and Sehwan. Rare in Lower Sind. Rather numerous in the Concan and 

 Deccan, Kutch, Kattiawar, Jodhpore and North Guzerat. 



In its habits the Large Grey Babbler does not differ from its congeners. It 

 breeds nearly throughout India. Its eggs are not unlike those of its con- 

 geners, unspotted, delicate pale blue. 



Gen. Sibia. Hodgs. 



Bill rather long, slender, almost entire, barely hooked at tip ; culmen gently 

 curving to tip ; nares lateral, lengthened ; wings moderately rounded ; tarsi 

 stout, moderately long ; tail one and a half or more the length of the 

 wing. 



539. Sibia picOldeS, Hodgs. Icon. ined. in Br. Mus. Passeres, pis. 

 ^95) J 96 ; id. J. A. S. B. viii. p. 38 ; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 55 ; Hume, Nests 

 and Eggs, Ind. B. p. 268 ; Blyth and Wald., B. Burm. p. 108 ; Hume and 

 Dav., Str. F. 1878, p. 294 ; Hume, Str. F. 1879, p. 97 ; Oates, B. Br. Burm. 

 p. 43. Heterophasia cuculopsis, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xi. p. 187. The LONG- 

 TAILED SIBIA. 



