PYCTORHIS. 



Nests and Eggs, Ind. B. p. 237 ; id., Sir. F. 1873, p. 179; Ball, Sir. F. 

 1874, p. 408; Hume, t. c. p. 475; id., Str. F. 1875, p. 115; 1876, p. 34; 

 Fairb. t. c. pp. 258, 265; Blyth and Wald., B. Burm. p. 117; Murray, 

 Vert. Zool. Sind, p 132; Oates, B. Br. Burm. i. p. 46 ; Sharps, Cat. B. 

 Br. Mus. vii. p. 510. Timelia hypoleuca, FrankL, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 1 18. 

 Chrysomma sinense, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi. p. 454. The YELLOW-EYED 

 BABBLER. 



Above reddish brown, darker on the head, and rufous on the wings ; inner 

 webs of primaries and secondaries dusky; tail dull brown, with very indistinct 

 or nearly obsolete dusky cross bands ; a stripe from the nostrils through the 

 eye ; chin, throat, and entire under surface white ; bill black, the base at the 

 nostrils yellow; legs yellow ; irides yellow brown; orbits orange. 



Length. 6*25 to 6-5 inches; wing 2-75 ; tail 3*5 ; bill at front 0*5. 



Hab. India generally, extending to Nepaul and Burmah. Common in 

 Bengal, N.-W. Provinces, Punjab and Sind ; also in Kutch, Kattiawar, N. 

 Guzerat, Jodhpore and the Deccan. Occurs also in Upper Pegu, Ceylon and 

 Southern India. In Sind it is as in other parts of India a resident, and breeds 

 in July and August. The nest is typically cone-shaped (apex downwards), 

 from 5 to 6 inches in depth and 3 or 4 in diameter at the base, the cone 

 sometimes or rather often truncated according to the situation of the nest. 

 The base of the cone is uppermost, and in it. is the egg cavity. The whole 

 structure is compactly woven with blades of grass and strips of fibrous bark, 

 and more or less coated exteriorly with cobwebs. The number of eggs 

 is from 2 to 3. They vary a good deal in shape and size, as well as in 

 colouring. Eggs usually two, and sometimes three in number, prettily marked 

 on a dusky or pinkish ground with streaks, spots and blotches of a brick red and 

 brown colour. Affects chiefly the low tamarisk jungle, in which it also 

 builds its nest. Oates says that in Burmah it affects grass jungle of all 

 description, and is much more common in such situations. Though it creeps 

 through grass without very perceptibly moving it, its pleasant and oft-repeated 

 notes are sufficient to show its whereabouts. 



600. Pyctorhis altirostris (Jerd.\ Godw.-Aust., y. A. S. B. 



xlv. pt. 2, p. 197, pi. ix. ; Blanf., Str. F. 1877, p. 225 ; Oates, Str. F. 1877, 

 p. 249; Hume, t. c. p. 329; Godw.-Aust., J. A. S. B. xlvii. pt. 2, p. 24; 

 Hume, Str. F. 1879, p. 95 ; Oates, Str. F. 1880, p. 200 ; id. B. Br. Burm. 

 p. 47 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. vii. p. 512. Chrysomma altirostris, Jerd., 

 Ibis, 1862, p. 22; Godw.-Aust. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. xvii. p. 34; 

 Hume, Str. F. 1876, p. 505. Pyctorhis griseigularis, Hume, Str. F. 18^7, 

 p. 1 16; id., Str. F. 1879, p. 95. JERDON'S GRASS-BABBLER. 



Upper plumage, including the cheeks and ear coverts, also the wing coverts, 

 uniform reddish or fulvescent brown ; forehead and crown bright rufous brown, 

 the feathers of the forehead centred slightly darker ; chin, throat and upper 



